Iranian foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that its country had seized some British marines earlier in the day when they entered its territorial waters illegally, the state television reported.

 

"This is not the first time for British military personnel to enter the Iranian waters illegally since they occupied Iraq," Ibrahim Rahimpour, director general for Western European affairs of the foreign ministry was quoted as saying.

 

"The Iranian border authorities have detained 15 British soldiers and marines for further investigation of blatant aggression into Iran's water," he added.

 

Meanwhile, the official disclosed that Tehran had summoned the top British envoy and demanded the London administration to explain it as soon as possible.

 

"We have summoned British charged' affaires Kate Smith to the foreign ministry to receive the firm protest for the illegal entry of British sailors into Iranian territorial waters," said Rahimpour, adding the British government should ensure "not to do this again" in the future.

 

The British Ministry of Defense (MOD) said earlier Friday that 15 British naval personnel were seized by Iranian forces.

 

The incident took place at approximately 10:30 Iraqi time (0730GMT) Friday when the British soldiers were engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1723 and the government of Iraq, the MOD said in a statement.

 

"The UK boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters." said the MOD.

 

"We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level," said the MOD, adding that "on the instructions of the Foreign Secretary, the Iranian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office."

 

"The British Government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment," the MOD said.

 

In June 2004, the Iranian forces detained eight British sailors for the same reason at the same area. The military personnel were paraded blindfold on television and forced to apologize for their "mistake." The Iranian authority released them after three days in custody.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2007)