Iran, Turkey discuss British sailors’ illegal crossing

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Thursday discussed over phone the recent illegal crossing of British sailors and marines into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf region.

Fifteen British sailors and marines, who had entered Iranian territory, were arrested by Iranian coastal guards on Friday, March 23.

According to the Press Bureau of the presidential office, the telephone conversation was on an initiative by the Turkish premier.

During the telephone conversation, Ahmadinejad underlined that the British troopers have for many times in the past violated international rules and conventions and illegally crossed into Iranian borders.

Despite their official commitment to avoid repetition of such illegal crossing into Iranian land and territorial water, the Britons have resorted to fabricated hue and cry instead of apology for their action and of helping resolve the issue through diplomatic channels, he said.

The Turkish premier, for his part, called Britain’s threats for freezing ties with Iran as a "mistake" and urged the Iranian officials to permit Turkish ambassador to Tehran to meet the captured British sailors in an effort to foil the ongoing false propaganda.

He also requested the Iranian president to secure release of the only female British marine.

The issue is now under judicial investigation due to British government’s improper approach, said the Iranian president, adding that he would issue necessary orders with a positive view for examination of Ankara’s demand.

http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-24/0703307065104937.htm

It gets even better:

http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-24/0703294706174341.htm

Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent on Thursday a message to British embassy in Tehran, calling for guarantee by London to avoid violating Iranian territorial waters in the future.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran severely protests against the violation of its territorial waters in Persian Gulf, and while underlining the importance of international laws and respect for the sovereignty of nations cautions the London government of the consequences of such violations," the message read.

According to the message, Iranian officials have declared that 15 British marines, fully armed, entered Iran’s territorial waters aboard two boats on Friday March 23.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry is also to deliver a letter to the United Nations in protest at the violation of its territorial waters.

Some 14 male and one female British marines who had illegally entered Iran’s territorial waters, were arrested by Iranian coast guards in the Persian Gulf.

Suck that down Phony Tony!