Fifteen British Navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says.
The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.
The Royal Navy said it was doing everything it could to secure the release of its personnel, who are based on HMS Cornwall.
It added that the men had been carrying out a routine patrol in Iraqi waters.
The Ministry of Defence said: "The group boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters.
"We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level.
"The British government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment."
It is understood the men being held are safe and well.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has summoned the Iranian ambassador in London to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in an attempt to get the men released as quickly as possible.
In a statement, leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, also called for their immediate release.
"Whatever the rights and wrongs of military action, British forces in Iraq are now there with the authority of a UN security council resolution... and the Iranian government should be left in no doubt of the serious implications of their action," he said.
The incident comes as British Army Colonel Justin Masherevski, who is based in Iraq, says most of the violence against UK forces in Basra is being engineered by Iranian elements.
Col Masherevski said Iran was providing "sophisticated weaponry" to insurgents and "Iranian agents" were paying local men to attack British troops.
In 2004, Iran detained eight British servicemen for three days after they allegedly strayed over the maritime border.
The UK claimed the men were "forcibly escorted" into Iranian territorial waters.
While they were being held, the men were paraded blindfold and made to apologise on Iranian TV before their release was agreed.
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the difference this time, and a cause of concern, is that the present Iranian government under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was much more hardline.
"The political climate is worse with Britain among those confronting Iran over its controversial nuclear programme," he added.
The U.s,Israel and its allies are wanting a big war with Iran. Its clear majority of them have history of wars and uccupation from there past and present. U.S and Israel are being hypocritical trying to disarm Iran from building weapons. Iran does not have history of wars like U.S or U.K and, also Iran never use nuke bombs on innocent civilians.
The U.s,Israel and its allies are wanting a big war with Iran. Its clear majority of them have history of wars and uccupation from there past and present. U.S and Israel are being hypocritical trying to disarm Iran from building weapons. Iran does not have history of wars like U.S or U.K and, also Iran never use nuke bombs on innocent civilians.
Iran doesn't have a history of wars? Might want to look at a history book again.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
Iran's government says it will reduce cooperation with United Nations nuclear inspectors in response to new sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said separately that the sanctions were illegal and Iran would not stop its nuclear work "even for one second".
The sanctions block Iranian arms exports and freeze assets of anyone involved in nuclear and missile work.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its work is peaceful.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Iran's government says it will reduce cooperation with United Nations nuclear inspectors in response to new sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said separately that the sanctions were illegal and Iran would not stop its nuclear work "even for one second".
The sanctions block Iranian arms exports and freeze assets of anyone involved in nuclear and missile work.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its work is peaceful.
If the nuclear technology they seek was intended for peaceful purposes, that would be easy enough to prove. Allow inspections by the IAEA and continue with the peaceful pursuit of nuclear power.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
Iran doesn't have a history of wars? Might want to look at a history book again.
I am sure i read the history book well; as for 2007 the U.S and Israel have alot of war compaigns plans. Also i am sure U.K have notorious for there past and present colonization. Did you ever witness Iran bombing innocent civilians for no reason? Look now the u.s is leading for bombing innocent civilians and also its allies.
If the nuclear technology they seek was intended for peaceful purposes, that would be easy enough to prove. Allow inspections by the IAEA and continue with the peaceful pursuit of nuclear power.
Why should they prove anything? I don't like hypocrisy, neither do they.
BTW - You ignored my Mugabe and Sudan post......?
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
what ever the case do we need another war in the m.east? And if it is going 2 b nations like the u.s and britain doing, why dont they look at themselves first. Can u really tell me that the u.s doesnt have one of the most curupt guvernment? And the u.k? Why shuld they be fighters of justice, they dont evan have that in their own lands!!!!
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
I am sure i read the history book well; as for 2007 the U.S and Israel have alot of war compaigns plans. Also i am sure U.K have notorious for there past and present colonization. Did you ever witness Iran bombing innocent civilians for no reason? Look now the u.s is leading for bombing innocent civilians and also its allies.
I can't quite understand what you are trying to say, but characterizing Iran as somehow being morally superior to the U.S. or the U.K. is your right, still doesn't deal with the situation we find ourselves in now, just throws out a red herring.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
what ever the case do we need another war in the m.east? And if it is going 2 b nations like the u.s and britain doing, why dont they look at themselves first. Can u really tell me that the u.s doesnt have one of the most curupt guvernment? And the u.k? Why shuld they be fighters of justice, they dont evan have that in their own lands!!!!
Any conflict with Iran isn't going to be about "justice", it will be about Iran pushing the status quo to the point where violence is inevitable.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
what ever the case do we need another war in the m.east? And if it is going 2 b nations like the u.s and britain doing, why dont they look at themselves first. Can u really tell me that the u.s doesnt have one of the most curupt guvernment? And the u.k? Why shuld they be fighters of justice, they dont evan have that in their own lands!!!!
true say...arrgh...what is UK doing? soon we will have WAR here (UK)...won't we?..i mean their messing with too many countries...and one day someone will backfire bad. Iran is strong...
I didn't ignore anything, I asked you why you would support action against Mugabe.
Well I did think it was self explanatory, but obviously not....
My concern is for the people of Zimbabwe and the dictatorship it's under. But then no oil for us and you is there. Forget Sudan too, why go and help those that need it when we can target other countries that don't want invading.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
true say...arrgh...what is UK doing? soon we will have WAR here (UK)...won't we?..i mean their messing with too many countries...and one day someone will backfire bad. Iran is strong...
Iran is strong? Yeah, so strong its war with Iraq ended in a stalemate with millions of deaths.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
I only know the general outline from the BBC World news interview with Gaddafi. Libya agreed to stop terrorist actions against the west and in return US and UK would provide financial aid and technology for i believe it was their power industry. Some of the money was forthcoming but the technology wasn't. I was astonished at the interview, having spent years believing Gaddafi to be a loony of the first order he was actually rather reasonable and I ended up nodding in agreement. My apologies if I have misunderstood the terms of the agreement but my point was if we make agreements we should stick to them as a good example for future negotiations.
I do believe that if the sanctions block Iranian arms exports and freeze assets of anyone involved in nuclear and missile work, that Iran will turn into another North Korea? Am I right?
They seem to be doing fine. Sure there is poverty here and there, but illegal imports and exports are always there to feed the country.
I do believe that nothing will happen about the nuclear weapons, Iran will continue with its plans to acquire more nuclear power.
As for those British folks in Iran, nothing will happen. They will be kept as hostages. [That is just my prediction, don't twist and mold it into anything else]
Well I did think it was self explanatory, but obviously not....
My concern is for the people of Zimbabwe and the dictatorship it's under. But then no oil for us and you is there. Forget Sudan too, why go and help those that need it when we can target other countries that don't want invading.
Forget the oil, that is a red herring and not even based in reality.
The reasons for lack of action in Rwanda, Sudan, and elsewhere comes down to what happened in Mogadishu. Ideally the U.N. should be taking responsibility for strictly humanitarian efforts. Unfortunately, the corruption in the U.N. has damaged its effectiveness. Hopefully the new secretary-general will take the humanitarian role of the U.N. more seriously.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
Well technically Ieaq should have won, because it was the US backing them. They can't even do that right. hehe
More lack of history. The U.S. backed both parties in the Iran/Iran War. If Iraq was starting to get the advantage, the U.S. would give aid to Iran, and vice versa. The interest of the United States was to keep the war going. Bad policy? Maybe, but the U.S. was far from Iraq's honest ally in that conflict.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
iam sick of seeing that red-neck president yabbering on about freedom, liberty and justice. The man cant evan spell the words let alone uphold them. Iran will be a more dificult opönant, trust me they have been prepering 4 this.
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
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Deploy troops in Iran...! (OP)
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
Yeah, so strong its war with Iraq ended in a stalemate with millions of deaths.
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