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)
