IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 285 

Condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the Iranian Government’s seizure of 15 British sailors and marines in the Shatt al Arab waterway 

on March 23, 2007, and asking for the immediate repatriation of these 

sailors and marines to the United Kingdom. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 29, 2007 

Mr. DENT submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the Iranian 

Government’s seizure of 15 British sailors and marines 

in the Shatt al Arab waterway on March 23, 2007, 

and asking for the immediate repatriation of these sailors 

and marines to the United Kingdom. 

Whereas on March 23, 2007, British sailors and marines 

from the HMS Cornwall were patrolling in Iraqi territorial waters, specifically the Shatt Al Arab waterway, 

which is located in the Northern Persian Gulf; 

Whereas those sailors and marines were patrolling in two inflatable boats from the Cornwall in support of United 

Nations Security Council Resolution 1723; 


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•HRES 285 IH 

Whereas those sailors and marines were engaged in routine 

boarding operations of merchant shipping in this waterway; 

Whereas during the course of those operations, the two inflatable boats were surrounded by six larger patrol boats belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy 

and, according to various press accounts, forced into Iranian territorial waters; 

Whereas these British sailors and marines were subsequently 

taken hostage by these Revolutionary Guard naval forces; 

Whereas this incident occurred just before the United Nations Security Council agreed to tougher sanctions 

against Iran for its refusal to halt its uranium enrichment program; 

Whereas those sanctions in part froze the assets of more than 

two dozen entities and individuals, including commanders 

of the Revolutionary Guards, the elite force that the 

United Kingdom has indicated is responsible for the seizure of these British sailors and marines; 

Whereas the British Government has demanded the immediate repatriation of these sailors and marines; 

Whereas the Iranian Government has refused to return these 

British citizens over to the United Kingdom; and 

Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to hold these 

sailors and marines against their will, and has refused to 

allow them contact with the British Government: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, 

3 Iran’s seizure of British sailors and marines on 


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•HRES 285 IH 

1 March 23, 2007, and asks for their immediate re2 turn to British custody; 

3 (2) calls on the United Nations to condemn 

4 Iran’s continued holding of these British naval per5 sonnel; 

6 (3) demands that Iran refrain from denying the 

7 British Government its right to have contact with 

8 these sailors and marines while they are in Iranian 

9 custody; and 

10 (4) demands that Iran refrain from subjecting 

11 these sailors and marines to any ‘‘show trials’’ in 

12 Iranian courts or to any treatment which is cruel or 

13 inhumane while these British naval personnel remain 

14 unlawfully in Iranian custody. 

Æ 


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