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Britain has asked the UN to support a statement expressing grave concern about the continuing detention of 15 Royal Navy sailors in Iran.UK ambassador to the UN Sir Emyr Jones Parry has circulated a draft text among member states at the organisation’s headquarters in New York.

Iran says the sailors illegally entered its waters - which the UK denies.

Iran said it has delayed the release of the only woman among the crew because of the UK’s “incorrect attitude”.

The draft statement circulated among UN Security Council calls for the “immediate release” of the crew.

It begins: “Members of the security council note with grave concern the continuing detention by the government of Iran of 15 UK naval personnel.”

What is important is that Iran knows that it is isolated on this issue Prime minister’s spokesman Scots marine among captives

The statement also notes that the Britons were operating in Iraqi waters under a mandate from the security council.

Iran released video footage on Thursday which it said shows the British crew being seized in Iranian waters.

It also showed a military briefing in which charts were shown indicating the crew were in Iranian waters.

‘Illegal’ detention

The BBC understands the language of the draft statement, being discussed behind closed doors, has been watered down because of reservations from some council members.

The Foreign Office spokesman said it was hoped the UN would release the statement later on Thursday.

The UN secretary-general has spoken to Iran’s foreign secretary about the issue, at an Arab summit in Saudi Arabia.

UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters 2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters 3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters 4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters UK version in more detail

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he had also spoken briefly to Iran’s foreign minister and reiterated the EU’s call for an end to the “illegal” detention.

On Wednesday, Iranian state television broadcast an interview with LS Turney and a letter she had apparently written.

Earlier Ali Larijani, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, said the release of Leading Seaman Faye Turney - which had been widely expected - had been delayed.

He talked about the UK’s “incorrect attitude”, which appeared to refer to the UK’s refusal to agree the crew had been in Iranian waters.

Footage of captives

Tony Blair’s official spokesman said the UK was not seeking a confrontation.

But he said footage shown on Iranian TV of LS Turney and the others was wrong in terms of “basic humanity”.

He added: “What is important is that Iran knows that it is isolated on this issue.”

He said although Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki had promised that British officials in Tehran would be given consular access to the personnel, this had not taken place.

The family have asked us to pray for Faye but it is very low key as they have requested, there are no special services Rev Sue Caddy vicar at Oxon Church Neighbours ’shock’ at capture

Those who know the sailor have spoken of their shock at the news her release may be delayed.

The Rev Sue Caddy, vicar at Oxon Church, near Shrewsbury, where LS Turney was married in 2002, said the congregation was praying for her.

She said: “The family have asked us to pray for Faye but it is very low key as they have requested, there are no special services.”

Iran has not disclosed where the service personnel are being held, but the BBC has been told they are at a military base in Tehran.

Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Charles Style, has produced data which he said proved the boarding party was 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters.

The Iranian embassy in London said the Britons had been 0.5 km inside Iranian territorial waters.

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