Full Text of Iran Letter to British Embassy

The following is the text of the letter handed to the British ambassador in Tehran, according to IRNA, Iran's state news agency.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran presents its compliments to the British Embassy in Tehran and draws the attention of the latter to the following:

"According to the information received from relevant authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, two British naval vessels manned by 15 fully equipped crews trespassed on Iran's territorial waters on 3 Farvardin 1386 (23 March 2007).

Since similar acts had taken place in the past and prior warning had been given against the repetition of such acts, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran protests strongly against this illegal act in violating Iranian territorial waters, emphasizes the respect for the rules and principles of international law concerning the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, underlines the responsibility of the British Government for the consequences of such violation, and calls for the guarantee to avoid the recurrence of such acts.

It will be appreciated if the esteemed embassy conveys this note to the relevant authorities of its government and informs this ministry of any explanation in this regard.

The ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the British Embassy the assurances of its highest considerations."

:: Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has declined to comment on the note in detail.

But she said: "What I would say is that there's nothing in the letter which suggests that the Iranians are looking for a way out of this difficult situation.

"We have been looking for a way out of it for them, for us and particularly for our service personnel from the very beginning.

"I wish I saw any sign that this is what Iran is trying to do," Beckett said on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Bremen, Germany.