Iran’s detention of British sailors and marines was unacceptable and illegal and further diplomatic pressure is needed on Tehran to secure their immediate release, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday.
”There is no justification whatsoever. It is completely unacceptable, wrong and illegal,” Blair said, adding: ”It is time to ratchet up diplomatic pressure.”
He added that Britain was in contact with allies in Nato and the United Nations Security Council to build support for its position.
”We are now in contact with all our key allies and partners to explain this incontrovertible fact that the seizure of the 15 British personnel was utterly without foundation and to step up the pressure on the Iranian government to deliver their immediate release,” Blair told Parliament.
Iranian gunboats captured the 15 British marines and sailors in the northern Gulf last week. Britain said on Wednesday that it had satellite positioning data that proved that the incident took place in Iraqi waters. – Reuters