Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Mar. 28 – Iran claimed on Wednesday that 15 British sailors who were arrested last week on the Iran-Iraq waterway were seized half a kilometre within Iranian territorial waters, hours after the British Ministry of Defence released global positioning system data as evidence that the group had been more than 2 km outside Iranian waters.

Iran Focus: London, Mar. 28 – The following is the text of an oral statement by British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett to the House of Commons over the arrest and continued detention of 15 British sailors and marines by Iran. Beckett said, “We are now in a new phase of diplomatic activity. … We will, therefore be imposing a freeze on all other official bilateral business with Iran until this situation is resolved”.

Reuters: Britain increased pressure on Iran on Wednesday releasing evidence it said showed 15 military personnel captured last week were operating in Iraqi waters.

Reuters: Oil rose more than $1 on Wednesday, with traders still rattled by a brief $5 spike caused by a rumor, quickly dismissed by the United States, of some sort of conflict involving Iran.

Bloomberg: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah will try to defuse tensions with Iran at an Arab summit in Riyadh today, seeking to counter instability and growing Iranian influence in the region.

Reuters: Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said on Tuesday she was cutting short her visit to Turkey and returning to London because of the Iran prisoner crisis.

Reuters: Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday said the United States was open to high-level talks with Tehran, but warned against “illusions” about Iran’s government and its intentions.