The following are statements by senior Iranian officials made over the past few days, on the issue of the captured British servicemen:

In a March 30 phone conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that "instead of apologizing and acting to resolve the issue by diplomatic means, Britain is piling up difficulties by means of false and noisy propaganda."

Source: ILNA, Iran, March 30, 2007

In a speech on Saturday, March 31, Ahmadinejad said that "the occupying British forces invaded Iran's [territorial] waters and our soldiers bravely arrested them... But the arrogant ones [i.e. Britain] are, because of their spirit of arrogance and selfishness, making demands on the Iranian people, instead of apologizing."

Source: IRNA, Iran, April 1, 2007

In a speech during Friday worship at Tehran's central mosque, Iranian Assembly of Experts member and cleric Ahmad Khatami said that Britain had lost its imperialistic power from the 19th century and had become a political agent of the U.S.

He added that "so far, the English have, according to proven documentation, invaded Iran's territorial waters a number of times, and in some of the instances they apologized and promised not to commit this reckless deed again. But at this stage, although all the documentation shows that they have repeated their violations, and even that their aggressive soldiers [have themselves] confessed to it, [England] speaks in harsh language... A third party such as the [U.N.] Security Council, or other countries such as the E.U., have no right to interfere in this issue, and their interference will only complicate matters and make difficulties for the work...

"The female English sailor was meant to be freed, but the expressions of violence and hostility by the English at Basra in attacking the Iranian consulate postponed the matter. In the event that this evil continues, the English will pay a heavy price..."

Source: Mehr, Iran, March 30, 2007

In an interview with Al-'Aalam TV that was released by the Iranian news agency ISNA, Iran's Parliamentary Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy chairman 'Alaa Al-Din Boroujerdi stated, "If London does indeed intend to solve the problem of its soldiers, it must dispatch a special commission to Tehran in order to find a logical solution by means of consultation and talks with the Iranian representatives... [But] if the English persist [in continuing] their illegal operations against Iran, there are many ways to respond to them..."

Source: ISNA, Iran, March 31, 2007

Deputy Majlis Speaker Mohamed Reza Bahonar told the conservative Iranian news agency Fars that "Iran will treat the abducted [British servicemen as required] legally... There is no threat greater than invading our land and infiltrating the territory of our country without permission... If it is proven that [the trespassing] was carried out by mistake, the issue will be resolved with an apology by the government of England. But if it is proven that it was intentional, the English government must clarify what the aim of the operation was and must indicate how it wants to compensate [Iran]..."

Source: Fars, Iran, March 28, 2007