LONDON - Britain says it has frozen diplomatic ties with Iran on all other issues - until Tehran frees 15 British naval personnel it captured on Friday.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett announced the new policy Wednesday in an address to parliament in London.

Iran says the two countries are capable of resolving the crisis over the 14 men and one woman through cooperation.

Earlier Wednesday, the British Defense Ministry showed satellite imagery it says proves the Britons were not in Iranian waters when captured. Vice Admiral Charles Style says they were more than three kilometers within Iraqi waters. Iran maintains the Britons were seized in Iranian waters.

In other developments, Turkish media are reporting Turkish diplomats may be allowed to meet with the captured Britons.

Britain says the naval personnel were conducting a routine inspection of a merchant ship in the Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iran and Iraq when they were seized.

Germany, which currently heads the European Union, summoned Iran’s ambassador to its Foreign Ministry in Berlin Tuesday to protest the Britons’ detention.

Source:  VOA News