TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran on Friday released a third letter purportedly written by detained British sailor Faye Turney, in which she claims to have been "sacrificed" by British and U.S. policies and urges both countries to withdraw their troops from Iraq.
"We were arrested after entering Iranian waters by the Iranian forces. For this I am deeply sorry," the letter states.
"I am writing to you as a British service person who has been sent to Iraq, sacrificed due to the intervening policies of the Bush and Blair governments.
"I believe that for our countries to move forward, we need to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq, and leave the people of Iraq to start rebuilding their lives."
The letter, the authenticity of which cannot be independently determine by CNN, follows two previous letters said to be written by Turney and released separately this week. (Watch Turney say what happened when she was captured )
Friday's letter was released just hours after Turney appeared with two other Britons in new video aired by Arabic language network Al Alam.
In the video, one the 15 detained service personnel held in Iran for the past week confessed to "entering your waters without permission."
"On the 23rd of March 2007 in Iranian waters we trespassed without permission," said Nathan Thomas Summers. The third detainee in the video has not been identified. (Watch detained British sailor make his 'confession' )
Summers said the Britons were being treated well, as did the Turney letter.
There has been no official reaction by the British government to the letter.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaking to reporters after the video was aired said: "All this does is enhance people's sense of disgust. Captured personnel being paraded and manipulated in this way doesn't fool anyone.
"What the Iranians have to realize is that if they continue in this way they will face continuing isolation."
Blair called for "patience" in dealing with the crisis, adding: "The most important thing is to ensure people are returned safe."
Earlier Friday, Britain's Foreign Office responded to the video, telling CNN that "using our servicemen in this way for propaganda reasons is outrageous."
Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers on Friday demanded Iran release 15 Britons, though some warned against escalating the dispute and said their diplomatic ties with Tehran would not be immediately affected, AP reported. (Full story)
Friday's video was the second so-called confession by a British detainee to be aired by Al Alam this week.
On Wednesday, it showed a video of Turney wearing a black scarf covering her hair, "admitting" that she and her crew had gone into Iranian waters. "Obviously we trespassed into their waters," she said.
Footage in the video also showed the other 14 British detainees eating.
The video caused outrage in London and Britain's ambassador to Iran visited the foreign ministry Thursday to protest its broadcast, Britain's Foreign Office confirmed.
Blair called it "completely wrong -- a disgrace, actually -- when people are used in that way. It's contrary to all international law and convention."
British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett announced Wednesday that Britain was freezing all bilateral diplomatic business with Iran until the 15 Britons were freed.
Security Council appeals for release
On Thursday, the UN Security Council expressed concern for the marines and sailors and appealed for their early release. (Watch the war of words build )
The U.N. statement fell short of a full condemnation sought by the British government.
On Friday, Turkey's government said it had spoken with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, who suggested Tehran was willing to reconsider an offer to release Turney, The Associated Press reported.
In footage aired Thursday, said to be of the capture operation, gunshots could be heard on the tape and a helicopter was shown above inflatable boats in choppy seas.
Iranian guard boats were seen cruising around while a couple of Iranian guardsmen shot into the air.
Then the video showed some of the British troops -- including Turney -- seated in a boat with an Iranian flag, presumably after their capture.
An Iranian military official also appeared on state television giving a briefing about the incident, indicating on a map where he said it happened. (Watch the war of words build )
The demonstration looked similar to a Wednesday briefing on the incident by British Vice Admiral Charles Style, who released a map of the Shatt al-Arab purporting to show the coordinates of the British boat when it was captured, along with pictures of handheld GPS devices showing the location. (Watch Iran's use of maps to show British 'trespassing' )
Release delayed
Earlier Thursday, Iran said the British personnel entered its waters six times before they were arrested.
Officials also announced that the promised release of Turney was suspended because of Britain's "behavior" in the matter.
"The wrong behavior of those who live in London caused the suspension," Iranian military commander Alireza Afshar said, according to the Mehr news agency.
Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Council, warned that Britain's tough stance in the matter was causing a delay in the release of Turney. (Watch what Iran says is holding up the release of British personnel )
On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had said Turney would be released "very soon."
Larijani said Tehran would like to resolve the issue through bilateral discussions and an investigation of legal and technical issues, and again asserted that the British patrol boats entered Iranian waters illegally.
In London on Thursday, the British Foreign Ministry said the Iranian government had sent a formal note to the British Embassy in Tehran.
"Such exchanges are always confidential, so we cannot divulge any details," a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. "But we're giving the message serious consideration and will soon respond formally to the Iranian government."
Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
"We were arrested after entering Iranian waters by the Iranian forces. For this I am deeply sorry," the letter states.
"I am writing to you as a British service person who has been sent to Iraq, sacrificed due to the intervening policies of the Bush and Blair governments.
"I believe that for our countries to move forward, we need to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq, and leave the people of Iraq to start rebuilding their lives."
The letter, the authenticity of which cannot be independently determine by CNN, follows two previous letters said to be written by Turney and released separately this week. (Watch Turney say what happened when she was captured )
Friday's letter was released just hours after Turney appeared with two other Britons in new video aired by Arabic language network Al Alam.
In the video, one the 15 detained service personnel held in Iran for the past week confessed to "entering your waters without permission."
"On the 23rd of March 2007 in Iranian waters we trespassed without permission," said Nathan Thomas Summers. The third detainee in the video has not been identified. (Watch detained British sailor make his 'confession' )
Summers said the Britons were being treated well, as did the Turney letter.
There has been no official reaction by the British government to the letter.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaking to reporters after the video was aired said: "All this does is enhance people's sense of disgust. Captured personnel being paraded and manipulated in this way doesn't fool anyone.
"What the Iranians have to realize is that if they continue in this way they will face continuing isolation."
Blair called for "patience" in dealing with the crisis, adding: "The most important thing is to ensure people are returned safe."
Earlier Friday, Britain's Foreign Office responded to the video, telling CNN that "using our servicemen in this way for propaganda reasons is outrageous."
Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers on Friday demanded Iran release 15 Britons, though some warned against escalating the dispute and said their diplomatic ties with Tehran would not be immediately affected, AP reported. (Full story)
Friday's video was the second so-called confession by a British detainee to be aired by Al Alam this week.
On Wednesday, it showed a video of Turney wearing a black scarf covering her hair, "admitting" that she and her crew had gone into Iranian waters. "Obviously we trespassed into their waters," she said.
Footage in the video also showed the other 14 British detainees eating.
The video caused outrage in London and Britain's ambassador to Iran visited the foreign ministry Thursday to protest its broadcast, Britain's Foreign Office confirmed.
Blair called it "completely wrong -- a disgrace, actually -- when people are used in that way. It's contrary to all international law and convention."
British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett announced Wednesday that Britain was freezing all bilateral diplomatic business with Iran until the 15 Britons were freed.
Security Council appeals for release
On Thursday, the UN Security Council expressed concern for the marines and sailors and appealed for their early release. (Watch the war of words build )
The U.N. statement fell short of a full condemnation sought by the British government.
On Friday, Turkey's government said it had spoken with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, who suggested Tehran was willing to reconsider an offer to release Turney, The Associated Press reported.
In footage aired Thursday, said to be of the capture operation, gunshots could be heard on the tape and a helicopter was shown above inflatable boats in choppy seas.
Iranian guard boats were seen cruising around while a couple of Iranian guardsmen shot into the air.
Then the video showed some of the British troops -- including Turney -- seated in a boat with an Iranian flag, presumably after their capture.
An Iranian military official also appeared on state television giving a briefing about the incident, indicating on a map where he said it happened. (Watch the war of words build )
The demonstration looked similar to a Wednesday briefing on the incident by British Vice Admiral Charles Style, who released a map of the Shatt al-Arab purporting to show the coordinates of the British boat when it was captured, along with pictures of handheld GPS devices showing the location. (Watch Iran's use of maps to show British 'trespassing' )
Release delayed
Earlier Thursday, Iran said the British personnel entered its waters six times before they were arrested.
Officials also announced that the promised release of Turney was suspended because of Britain's "behavior" in the matter.
"The wrong behavior of those who live in London caused the suspension," Iranian military commander Alireza Afshar said, according to the Mehr news agency.
Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Council, warned that Britain's tough stance in the matter was causing a delay in the release of Turney. (Watch what Iran says is holding up the release of British personnel )
On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had said Turney would be released "very soon."
Larijani said Tehran would like to resolve the issue through bilateral discussions and an investigation of legal and technical issues, and again asserted that the British patrol boats entered Iranian waters illegally.
In London on Thursday, the British Foreign Ministry said the Iranian government had sent a formal note to the British Embassy in Tehran.
"Such exchanges are always confidential, so we cannot divulge any details," a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. "But we're giving the message serious consideration and will soon respond formally to the Iranian government."
Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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