The two most senior members of the 15 sailors and marines held in Iran have shunned offers of money for their accounts of the 13-day ordeal.

Royal Navy Lieutenant Felix Carman and Captain Chris Air have defended the right of comrades to sell their stories, but have refused to accept any money for their own.

Lt Carman, from Swansea, admitted today that he found the subject of being paid "a bit unsavoury" and has said he will hand over any money he makes to charity.

He told GMTV: "I personally find the subject (of being paid to speak) a bit unsavoury but I don’t begrudge people who have been through an awful ordeal making a bit of money out of this.

"In the case of Faye Turney, she has a young daughter and the money could set her up for life."

In a separate interview with the South Wales Evening Post, Lt Carman said: "I am not interested in making money out of this. My main aim is to tell the story.

"There are some people who might be making money, but that’s an individual’s decision, that’s very private, but that’s not something that myself or many of the others will do."

Currently on compassionate leave at his parents’ home, Lt Carman said he had not thought about money at all and would "happily" talk for free.

He said he thought the Ministry of Defence had allowed crew to sell their stories because officials realised someone was going to make money out of them anyway.

The officer, 26, admitted he had found it hard to adjust to everyday life and is now considering putting together a journal of his 13 days in captivity, according to the paper.

He said: "It’s unbelievable, it’s all been a bit of a blur. It’s very strange, I have gone from not speaking to anyone at all to everyone in the world wanting to speak to me...

"I had to escape on Saturday morning - it was quite intimidating going out and meeting family and friends again. I thought, if I do not force myself to go out and about now, I am going to be stuck indoors."

He would not hesitate to go back to Iraq after his leave, he added, saying: "I am going back to Iraq, right now I’m not that chuffed about it but as soon as I get there I will be fine - I love it."