The British government is demanding Iran release 15 British sailors and marines captured by Iran on Friday in the Persian Gulf. Iran says that the 14 men and one woman were seized after crossing into Iranian waters to search an Indian vessel. British Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected Iran’s claim.

Tony Blair: “This is a very serious situation, and there is no doubt at all that these people were taken from a boat in Iraqi water. It simply is not true that they went into Iranian territorial waters.”

Iran says the sailors could be charged with illegally entering Iranian waters.