Saudi Arabia said its navy captured three members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard aboard a small boat laden with explosives as it headed toward an oil platform in the Gulf.
Saudi naval forces fired warning shots and captured one of the vessels but two escaped, the statement added.
The three guards "are now being questioned by Saudi authorities", the information and culture ministry said in its statement.
The vessel, seized last Friday, was carrying explosives and meant to conduct a "terrorist act" in Saudi territorial waters, it said.
"There is no proof that they are military personnel", he said, in remarks carried by the ILNA news agency. The announcement comes after Iranian state television accused Saudi Arabia's coast guard of killing an Iranian fisherman on Friday.
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The Muslim Council tweeted that worshippers were struck by a van as they were leaving prayers near the Finsbury Park mosque. Eight people were killed and dozens more were injured in the attack, which began shortly before 10pm local time on 3 June.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were already strained but escalated after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other allies cut ties with Qatar two weeks ago.
It said one of the boats was subsequently seized and found to be "carrying weapons for a sabotage target".
Seventeen people were killed in the attack claimed by Daesh.
The statement, however, did not say who was behind the attack.
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