"The British sailors are currently being interrogated and must clarify whether they entered Iranian waters deliberately or by mistake," he said. "When it becomes clear, a decision will be made."
Mostafavi also denied reports Iran wanted to exchange the sailors with Iranians seized by US forces in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil in January, an incident that triggered further tensions between Tehran and archfoe Washington.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari telephoned his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki on Sunday to urge the release of the Britons, saying they were operating in Iraq with the government's consent.
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