UK sailors detained 0.5 km inside Iranian waters, embassy confirms 
March 28, IRNA

Iran confirmed Wednesday that the detention of 15 British marines and sailors took place last Friday after they had illegally entered Iranian territorial waters in the northern part of the Persian Gulf.

“Iran has already provided the geographical coordinates of the detention to the British government and has sufficient evidence, including GPS navigator systems, to indicate the penetration of British military personnel 0.5 km deep into Iranian waters,” the embassy in London said.

“Violation of international border and their intrusive act justified their detention,” it said in a written statement obtained by IRNA.

In a corresponding statement, Britain’s deputy chief of defence staff, Vice Admiral Charles Style confirmed that his government had been given a second set of coordinates by Iran about the detentions that were in Iranian waters.

But Styles also presented different British coordinates to claim that the British naval personnel were arrested 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters.

The Iranian Embassy said that the two governments have been closely examining and discussing the case on a daily basis due to “its sensitive security aspects.”

“We are confident that Iranian and British governments are capable of resolving this security case through their close contacts and cooperation in which would prevent the reoccurrence of such incidents in the area,” it said.

The statement also reassured that as the investigation continued “all British marines and sailors are in good health and condition and they enjoy welfare and Iranian hospitality.”
“We understand the anxiety of their families, but they must be assured that they are in safe hands and have a better life than the risky mission in the Persian Gulf waters,” it said.

The embassy also added that the legal and technical issue had “no links to any other issues” and warned that unfounded speculation and provocative rhetoric can only be “counterproductive.”