28 March 2007
Tony Blair has again condemned the “completely unacceptable, wrong and illegal” detention of 15 British service personnel by Iran.
He told MPs it was time to “ratchet up” the diplomatic and international pressure on Iran to release the UK servicemen and one woman, after the Ministry of Defence released map co-ordinates showing they were in Iraqi waters when seized.
Mr Blair said:
“Our thoughts are with our servicemen and the servicewoman and their families and their safe return is our paramount concern.
“Those personnel were patrolling in Iraqi waters under a United Nations mandate. Their boarding and checking of the Indian merchant vessel was routine. There was no justification whatever for their detention. It was completely unacceptable, wrong and illegal.
“It is now time to ratchet up the diplomatic and international pressure in order to make sure the Iranian government understands their total isolation on this issue.”
At a briefing in London on Wednesday, the MOD said it “unambiguously contested” Iran’s claims that the Royal Navy personnel had strayed into Iranian waters.
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