{
  "id": 4331188,
  "title": "Handcuffed at gunpoint: Sailor tells of ordeal in Iran’s Bandar Abbas jail",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/handcuffed-at-gunpoint-sailor-tells-of-ordeal-in-irans-bandar-abbas",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/08/30/handcuffed-at-gunpoint-sailor-tells-of-ordeal-in-irans-bandar-abbas-jail/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A former sailor, Paul Justin, has recounted his ordeal of being handcuffed and held at gunpoint in Iran's Bandar Abbas jail for over nine months. He and 15 other crew members were detained by Iranian forces after their vessel was intercepted over allegations of fuel smuggling. The sailors were held in the notorious Bandar Abbas prison, where they endured brutal treatment and lived in fear of nearby explosions. Justin, an oiler on the Harbour Phoenix, described the inhumane conditions and the constant threat of explosions that threatened his life. He returned home in June, but the ordeal has left him with lasting nightmares and a plea for the release of other sailors still held in Iranian jails.",
  "summary": "A sailor detained for more than nine months by Iranian forces has told of how he feared he would \"die in jail\" after being subjected to brutal treatment as missiles exploded nearby. Paul Justin, 27, was among 16 crew who were held in the notorious Bandar Abbas prison after authorities intercepted their vessel over fuel smuggling allegations. They were finally released in May, prompting relief…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Iran rift widens as supreme leader tells ministers to stop publicising country's problems",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/iran-rift-widens-as-supreme-leader-tells-ministers-to-stop",
        "published": "2026-08-28T17:39:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Iran's Supreme Leader bans acts that 'harm social cohesion'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/irans-supreme-leader-bans-acts-that-harm-social-cohesion",
        "published": "2026-08-28T18:48:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}