The Iranian navy detained 15 British sailors and marines today, in disputed waters in the Persian Gulf. The British defense ministry says the troops were seized and held at gunpoint after inspecting a cargo ship.
The British government quickly protested Iran's action, saying that the Royal Navy was engaged in routine boarding operations while protecting Iraq's territorial waters.
But Tehran says the British sailors illegally entered Iranian waters — the incident occurred at the mouth of Shatt al-Arab, an important shipping waterway that divides Iraq from Iran.
Iraq says it controls the waters, referring to a 1975 treaty. But Iran disputes the claim.
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