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Iran stand-off dangerous - Reid UK reveals Iran dispute evidence
(40 minutes later)
The dispute over 15 Royal Navy personnel being held in Iran is becoming a "difficult" and "dangerous" situation, the UK home secretary says. The 15 Royal Navy personnel being held in Iran were 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters when they were seized, the Royal Navy has said.
John Reid's remarks on Sky News came after Tony Blair hinted at taking a more aggressive diplomatic approach. Vice Admiral Charles Style said the Iranians had given two different positions for the personnel - the first inside Iraqi territorial waters.
The UK is set to release photographs to back its assertion that the Britons had not been in Iranian waters on Friday. He said they had been "ambushed" after the search of a vessel and that their detention was "unjustified and wrong".
Turkey's prime minister has been quoted as saying his diplomats may be allowed to meet the group, taken in the Gulf. Iran insists the group had been in its waters when they were taken on Friday.
Earlier, Turkey's prime minister was quoted as saying his diplomats may be allowed to meet the group, taken in the Gulf.
According to CNN Turk television, Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the indication after meeting the Iranian foreign minister and before an Arab leaders' summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.According to CNN Turk television, Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the indication after meeting the Iranian foreign minister and before an Arab leaders' summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The market has been on pins and needles with the Iran situation Phil FlynnAlaron Trading Iran tension affects oil pricesThe market has been on pins and needles with the Iran situation Phil FlynnAlaron Trading Iran tension affects oil prices
The Foreign Office said reports that Turkish diplomats may be granted access to the detainees should be treated with "caution".The Foreign Office said reports that Turkish diplomats may be granted access to the detainees should be treated with "caution".
It stressed: "For the moment, the point is that we want access to them."It stressed: "For the moment, the point is that we want access to them."
On Tuesday, UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett discussed the plight of the Britons with Turkey, its Nato ally.On Tuesday, UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett discussed the plight of the Britons with Turkey, its Nato ally.
The eight sailors and seven marines, based on HMS Cornwall, were taken at gunpoint in the northern Gulf as they returned after searching a boat.The eight sailors and seven marines, based on HMS Cornwall, were taken at gunpoint in the northern Gulf as they returned after searching a boat.
Iran says they were trespassing in Iranian waters, but the UK has insisted the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.Iran says they were trespassing in Iranian waters, but the UK has insisted the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.
Preparations are in place for a news conference at the Ministry of Defence in London, where photographs of the moments when the Britons were captured will be revealed.
HMS Cornwall's area of operationsHMS Cornwall's area of operations
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the UK could confront Iran directly with satellite pictures and other evidence in an effort to prove the personnel had not strayed into Iranian territorial waters.
He said hardliners around Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believe the Britons may be ideal pawns, either for concessions over Iran's nuclear programme or to trade for five Iranians being held by the US in Iraq.
Mrs Beckett cut short her visit to Turkey to return to the UK where she will and give a statement on the crisis to MPs.Mrs Beckett cut short her visit to Turkey to return to the UK where she will and give a statement on the crisis to MPs.
She decided to return after a phone call to the Iranian foreign minister on Tuesday made no progress.She decided to return after a phone call to the Iranian foreign minister on Tuesday made no progress.
Downing Street has said that up to now the UK has been attempting to talk "discreetly" to the Iranians to secure the release of the Royal Navy personnel.Downing Street has said that up to now the UK has been attempting to talk "discreetly" to the Iranians to secure the release of the Royal Navy personnel.
The prime minister's spokesman said that if the talks were unsuccessful, the government may have to become "more explicit" with Iran.The prime minister's spokesman said that if the talks were unsuccessful, the government may have to become "more explicit" with Iran.
HAVE YOUR SAY The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world Gary, UK Send us your comments Iranian view on stand-offHAVE YOUR SAY The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world Gary, UK Send us your comments Iranian view on stand-off
Salah Al Shaikhly, Iraq's ambassador to the UK, said his country would try to help the bid to secure the personnel's release and "the voice of reason should prevail".Salah Al Shaikhly, Iraq's ambassador to the UK, said his country would try to help the bid to secure the personnel's release and "the voice of reason should prevail".
BBC News has broadcast footage of an interview it carried out last week with Faye Turney, the only woman among the 15 who were capturedBBC News has broadcast footage of an interview it carried out last week with Faye Turney, the only woman among the 15 who were captured
It showed the married 26-year-old, who had a photo of her three-year-old daughter very close at hand throughout the filming, on the Cornwall just hours before the incident.It showed the married 26-year-old, who had a photo of her three-year-old daughter very close at hand throughout the filming, on the Cornwall just hours before the incident.
The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran, where they are said to be being treated humanely.The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran, where they are said to be being treated humanely.
The Foreign Office says it has been unable to confirm reports by Iran's official news agency Irna that Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, had said British diplomats would be given access to the group after the "primary investigation" by Iranian officials.The Foreign Office says it has been unable to confirm reports by Iran's official news agency Irna that Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, had said British diplomats would be given access to the group after the "primary investigation" by Iranian officials.
He was quoted by Irna as saying: "The media campaigns and provocative ... remarks regarding the violation of Iranian territorial waters by the British sailors are doing nothing to help settle the affair."He was quoted by Irna as saying: "The media campaigns and provocative ... remarks regarding the violation of Iranian territorial waters by the British sailors are doing nothing to help settle the affair."
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