Iranian Vessels Seize 15 British Navy Personnel

Iranian naval vessels on Friday seized 15 British sailors who had boarded a merchant ship in Iraqi waters of the Persian Gulf, British and U.S. officials said. Britain immediately protested the incident which comes at a time of high tension between the West and Iran.

Iran had no immediate comment about the incident. In London, the British government summoned the Iranian ambassador, Rasoul Movahedian, to the Foreign Office at mid-afternoon and demanded “the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment.”

The U.S. Navy, which operates off the Iraqi coast along with British forces, said the British sailors appeared unharmed and that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval forces were responsible.

Britain’s Defense Ministry said the British Navy personnel were “engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters,” and had completed a ship inspection when they were accosted by the Iranian vessels.

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