Iran seizes three British navy vessels: media

Iran seizes three British navy vessels: media

Tehran, June 21, Kyodo/OANA/IRNA -- Iran detained three British navy vessels Monday and arrested eight armed crew members, state-run television reported.

The three British ships -- described as `warships` -- entered Iranian territorial waters not far from the Iran-Iraq border, according to the Arabic-language Al-Alam television, which was monitored by the Associated Press.

"Iranian forces confiscated the ships and eight military personnel on board," the report said.

A British Defense Ministry spokesman told Reuters in London, "We are checking this out. We cannot confirm or deny anything at the moment."

The move comes shortly after Britain joined other key UN members in accusing Iran of being less than fully cooperative with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is investigating Iran`s suspected nuclear arms development efforts.

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