26/03/2007
Seized British Naval personnel are 'fit and well'
Fifteen Royal Navy personnel captured by Iranian forces on Friday are "fit and well", the Foreign Office has confirmed.
It is understood that British ambassador to Iran, Geoffrey Adams, was given the assurance by officials from Iran's foreign ministry, during a meeting on Monday morning.
However, no further details about the Britons has been released.
Iran said that they could be charged with illegally entering Iranian waters, although both the UK and Iraq have said that they were in Iraqi waters at the time they were seized.
The Britons - eight sailors and seven marines, including one woman - were taking part in a routine operation in the Shatt Al Arab waterway when they were detained by an Iranian naval force.
Iran accused the personnel of the HMS Cornwall of being in Iranian waters illegally.
Both Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett have insisted that the vessel was in Iraqi waters and have demanded the release of the personnel.
On Sunday, Mr Blair described the detention of the service personnel as "unjustified and wrong".
On the same day, Mr Adams met with officials in Tehran but failed to find out where the Britons were being held or gain consular access to them.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has also called for the Britons to be released, as has Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who insisted that the Britons were in Iraqi waters when they were captured.
(KMcA/SP)
It is understood that British ambassador to Iran, Geoffrey Adams, was given the assurance by officials from Iran's foreign ministry, during a meeting on Monday morning.
However, no further details about the Britons has been released.
Iran said that they could be charged with illegally entering Iranian waters, although both the UK and Iraq have said that they were in Iraqi waters at the time they were seized.
The Britons - eight sailors and seven marines, including one woman - were taking part in a routine operation in the Shatt Al Arab waterway when they were detained by an Iranian naval force.
Iran accused the personnel of the HMS Cornwall of being in Iranian waters illegally.
Both Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett have insisted that the vessel was in Iraqi waters and have demanded the release of the personnel.
On Sunday, Mr Blair described the detention of the service personnel as "unjustified and wrong".
On the same day, Mr Adams met with officials in Tehran but failed to find out where the Britons were being held or gain consular access to them.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has also called for the Britons to be released, as has Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who insisted that the Britons were in Iraqi waters when they were captured.
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
02 April 2007
British crew 'admit trespass'
All 15 British sailors and marines detained in Iran have admitted that they illegally entered the country's waters, Iranian state radio has reported. Previous footage of four crew members - three men and one woman - have been broadcast on Iranian television showing the Britons saying that they had entered Iran's waters.
British crew 'admit trespass'
All 15 British sailors and marines detained in Iran have admitted that they illegally entered the country's waters, Iranian state radio has reported. Previous footage of four crew members - three men and one woman - have been broadcast on Iranian television showing the Britons saying that they had entered Iran's waters.
29 March 2007
Iran offers conditional access to captured Britons
Iran has offered to allow British officials access to the 15 Royal Navy personnel captured in the Gulf last week, but only if the UK admits that they had strayed into Iranian waters.
Iran offers conditional access to captured Britons
Iran has offered to allow British officials access to the 15 Royal Navy personnel captured in the Gulf last week, but only if the UK admits that they had strayed into Iranian waters.
03 April 2007
Next 48 hours 'critical' in Iran crisis
The next two days will be "fairly critical" in the bid to secure the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel detained in Iran, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said. Mr Blair said: "The most important thing is to get our people back safe and sound.
Next 48 hours 'critical' in Iran crisis
The next two days will be "fairly critical" in the bid to secure the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel detained in Iran, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said. Mr Blair said: "The most important thing is to get our people back safe and sound.
30 March 2007
Second sailor 'apology' screened by Iran
Footage has been broadcast on Iranian television showing a second member of the captured Royal Navy crew apologising for "trespassing" in Iranian waters. The crewman, who introduced himself as Nathan Thomas Summers, said that the Britons had entered into Iranian waters without permission and apologised to the Iranian people.
Second sailor 'apology' screened by Iran
Footage has been broadcast on Iranian television showing a second member of the captured Royal Navy crew apologising for "trespassing" in Iranian waters. The crewman, who introduced himself as Nathan Thomas Summers, said that the Britons had entered into Iranian waters without permission and apologised to the Iranian people.
23 June 2009
UK Expels Two Iranian Diplomats
The PM Gordon Brown has announced two Iranian diplomats are to be expelled after the "unjustified" expulsion of two British envoys. The move, which the Prime Minister said was in response to Iran ordering two UK diplomats to leave the country, was announced today in the House of Commons.
UK Expels Two Iranian Diplomats
The PM Gordon Brown has announced two Iranian diplomats are to be expelled after the "unjustified" expulsion of two British envoys. The move, which the Prime Minister said was in response to Iran ordering two UK diplomats to leave the country, was announced today in the House of Commons.