Will The British Sailors Detained By Iran Face Trial?

It is probable that the 15 UK sailors taken captive by Iranian authorities and held at an unknown location since 23 March 2007 will face trial in Iran.  Gholamreza Ansari, the Iranian ambassador in Moscow stated that this was a distinct possibility, when asked by Russian reporters. According to Ansari, the Iranian government has already commenced "legal moves" against the 15 British sailors and this could lead not only to a trial, but also to a conviction and punishment in Iran.

Teheran claims that the Navy personnel illegally entered Iranian waters. The British government has staunchly denied these allegations and has produced evidence suggesting that the sailors were in Iraqi waters when they were captured by Iranians.  Margaret Beckett, the Labour government's foreign secretary, and Prime Minister Tony Blair have spoken out on a number of occasions on this issue and have emphasized that Iran's actions were totally inappropriate, that the country risked further isolation, but that the UK sought to resolve the issue peacefully.

What makes the detainment of the British sailors more problematic is that UK diplomats have not been given access to them and Britain has no clue where they are being held. A series of letters have been released, allegedly written by Faye Turney, one of the sailors, in which she "confesses" to entering Iranian waters with her colleagues. The UK, the EU and the US consider these letters fake and have condemned Iran for its actions.