Iran considering bringing charges against British sailors

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Iran is considering charging 15 British sailors with illegally entering its waters, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Sunday.

Mottaki told reporters in New York that he would likely speak to British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett about the issue later on Sunday.

Iran captured 15 British Navy personnel at the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which marks the southern stretch of Iraq's border with Iran, in the Gulf on Friday. "The charge against them is the illegal entrance into Iranian waters and this issue is being considered legally," Mottaki told reporters in New York.

"The Iranian authorities intercepted these sailors and marines in Iranian waters and detained them in Iranian waters and this has happened in the past as well," Mottaki said.

But Britain has said two boatloads of Royal Navy sailors and marines had searched a merchant vessel on a U.N.-approved mission in Iraqi waters when Iranian gunboats encircled and captured them.

"The issue is under consideration under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Mottaki said. "The British foreign minister has requested a telephone call with me that will probably happen this afternoon."

Mottaki addressed the U.N. Security Council on Saturday after the 15-member body imposed new financial and arms sanctions against Tehran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.