U.S. President George Bush says Iran must unconditionally release 15 British naval personnel seized this past week. VOA White House Correspondent reports, Mr. Bush discussed the matter Saturday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who vowed to continue his country's commercial ties with Iran.

After Iranian television showed British naval personnel saying they had entered Iranian territory without permission when they were detained, state-run media say that all 15 being held by Tehran have confessed to illegally entering Iran's waters.

Iran is responding to criticism from European Union officials about 15 British sailors and marines Iran says it detained in Iranian waters.

A British serviceman has appeared on Iranian television apologizing for having entered Iranian waters without permission with his crew last week. The clip, broadcast on Arabic-language television, also showed another serviceman and the only woman among the 15 British Navy personnel being held by Tehran.

Britain is pressing its demand for the immediate release of 15 sailors and marines, seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces last Friday, while Tehran is warning of delays and says an apology would help speed up the process.

Britain said Wednesday it was freezing most contacts with Iran until 15 captured sailors and marines are freed and the Royal Navy released map coordinates to reinforce its claim that the group was seized illegally outside Iranian waters.

Britain has again called on Iran to quickly release the 15 British sailors and marines it has been holding since March 23. Prime Minister Tony Blair, in an interview on British television, warned that efforts to secure the group's release could enter a "different phase" if diplomatic efforts failed.

Iran says it is considering charging 15 detained British sailors and marines with illegally entering Iranian waters. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki made that remark Sunday in New York.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair today accused Iran of seizing British naval personnel in Iraqi waters and said Tehran must understand that the situation is "very serious."

Iranian media say the Foreign Ministry today summoned British Ambassador to Iran Geoffrey Adams to protest the "illegal entry" of British sailors into Iranian waters.