Courtesy of Fox News:

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s ambassador to Russia renewed a threat Iranian officials made earlier this week, saying 15 British sailors held by Iran could be tried for violating international law, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported Saturday.

Gholam-Reza Ansari told Russian television Vesti-24 on Friday that Iran had launched a legal investigation of the British sailors. “They will be tried if there is enough evidence of guilt,” Ansari was quoted by IRNA as saying.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett urged Iran to resolve the crisis and said London remains open to dialogue.

“We encourage Iran to peacefully resolve this issue,” Beckett said on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers after Iran’s ambassador to Russia reportedly said the sailors and marines could be tried for violating international law.

Asked about those remarks, she replied: “I’m concerned … it’s not the first person who made saber-rattling comments.”

Beckett said that “we continue to express our willingness to engage in dialogue and discussions with Iran.”

“That is very much in the best interest of our people and that is our foremost concern,” she said.

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