Iran Says Britain Can See Prisoners

The Iranian foreign minister said that British officials can meet with the 15 British Navy sailors and Royal Marines being held in Iran.

There is no problem. Measures are under way. They can meet them, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said.

The British Foreign Office was waiting for details on the offer.

The Telegraph reported that the offer to meet with the service members, who were captured last week in the Persian Gulf, was the apparent result of financial sanctions placed on Iran by Britain, which froze all business with Iran Wednesday. It also followed the release of television footage of the prisoners apologizing for entering Iranian waters and stating that they were being treated well. British officials have suggested that the statements were staged.

British officials, meanwhile, said they have evidence that the British boats were in Iraqi waters when the service members were captured.