THE TENSION: UPDATE: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraqi Waters

Seized sailors are from HMS Cornwall.
Open thread:

The Associated Press and Reuters report Iranian naval vessels seized 15 British sailors at gunpoint in Iraqi waters on Friday, the Ministry of Defense said.

"At approximately 1030 Iraqi time this morning, 15 British naval personnel, engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters ... were seized by Iranian naval vessels," the ministry said in a statement.

The British boarding operation, according to the ministry's statement, was authorized under a United Nations Security Council Resolution 1723 and supported by the government of Iraq.

The 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 and ... the Iranian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office," the ministry said.