LONDON (AP) – Britain said Thursday it is seeking condemnation of Iran at the United Nations for Tehran’s seizure and detention of 15 sailors and marines in disputed waters between Iran and Iraq.

Britain had been in discussions to get a U.N. declaration condemning the detentions, according to a Foreign Office official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was unauthorized to speak on the subject. The text was still under discussion.

“There are some plans to say something on behalf of the United Nations (about the seized British military personnel) but they have not been finalized,” the official said.

The conflict between Iran and Britain has become increasingly bitter since the crew members were seized on Friday, with both trading accusations of unlawful actions.

Britain has asked the Security Council to support a call for the immediate release of the detainees, saying in a statement Wednesday they were operating in Iraqi waters under a mandate from the Security Council and at the request of Iraq, according to council diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because the text was not released.

Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s official spokesman said Britain wanted to resolve the crisis quickly and without having a “confrontation over this.”

“We are not seeking to put Iran in a corner. We are simply saying, ‘Please release the personnel who should not have been seized in the first place,’ ” said the spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

In a briefing to reporters, the spokesman said British officials had been angered by Tehran’s decision to show captured the British sailors and marines on Iranian television.

“Nobody should be put in that position. It is an impossible position to be put in,” he said. “It is wrong. It is wrong in terms of the usual conventions that cover this. It is wrong in terms of basic humanity.”

In video broadcast Wednesday on Iranian television, the only woman captive said her group had “trespassed” in Iranian waters. The segment showed sailor Faye Turney wearing a white tunic and black head scarf, sitting in a room before floral curtains and smoking a cigarette.

“Obviously we trespassed into their waters,” Ms. Turney said. “They were very friendly and very hospitable, very thoughtful, nice people. They explained to us why we’ve been arrested. There was no harm, no aggression.”

The spokesman dismissed Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki’s suggestion, made Wednesday, that Britain should resolve the crisis by admitting that its personnel had made a “mistake” and crossed into Iranian waters.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense released coordinates Wednesday that it said was proof the captured naval personnel were in Iraqi waters and not Iranian waters. Tehran says it has evidence showing that the sailors were in their waters.