Iran summons UK envoy over naval detentions

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran summoned the British charge d'affaires to Tehran on Friday to protest over what it said was the illegal entry of British naval personnel into Iranian waters, state television reported.

Britain said 15 British naval personnel were seized by Iran in the Gulf but said they were in Iraqi waters.

"The Iranian Foreign Ministry has seriously objected following the illegal entry of British naval military forces into our country's waters," state television reported, adding that they were detained by Iranian border guards for further investigation.

A British diplomat in Tehran confirmed the charge d'affaires was summoned but gave no further details.

Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted an Iranian embassy spokesman in London as saying Tehran was "examining the issue" after Iran's ambassador to London was summoned to Britain's Foreign Ministry over the detentions.

The Iranian envoy, Rasoul Movahedian, met Peter Ricketts, the British Foreign Office permanent undersecretary.

"In today's meeting (in London), Iran's ambassador also discussed with this British official the latest situation of Iran's nuclear dossier and British efforts in the U.N. Security Council in order to pass a new resolution for sanctions against Iran," the Iranian embassy spokesman said.