Eight Royal Navy sailors detained by Iranian forces were shown blindfolded and sitting cross-legged on the ground on television yesterday.

Iranian media reported the sailors, who were captured on Monday, would be put on trial for "illegally entering Iranian territorial waters".

But a senior spokesman for the Iranian military last night said they may soon be released.

"If the outcome of the interrogations of the British military men shows that they had no bad intention, they will be released soon," said General Ali Reza Afshar.