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The White House on Friday denounced Iran's treatment of 15 British sailors after the former captives said they were threatened with prison if they did not admit to straying into Iranian waters.
The British sailors told a news conference in Britain on Friday that they were blindfolded, bound, kept in isolation and warned that they faced up to seven years in prison.
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters near President George W. Bush's Texas ranch the Iranians did not seem to engage in appropriate behavior in dealing with the sailors who were seized in the Gulf two weeks ago.
"It's unfortunate that the Iranians ever detained the sailors to begin with, considering they were operating under a UN mandate in Iraqi waters. So what the sailors said this morning - it's unfortunate and extremely disappointing they were treated inappropriately in any way," Johndroe said.
He called on Iran to comply with UN Security Council resolutions aimed at stopping uranium enrichment that the West believes is devoted to developing a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies.
He reiterated that Washington wanted a peaceful outcome.
"We are not seeking confrontation with the Iranians," Johndroe said.
Bush held an hour-long videoconference call with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday.
