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UK studies Iran diplomacy 'offer' Iran hopeful over UK navy talks
(about 2 hours later)
The UK says it is seeking more details from Iran after a senior official called for a diplomatic solution to the crisis over the captured navy crew. Britain and Iran should be able to end the stand-off over the capture of 15 Royal Navy personnel by negotiating, a senior Tehran official has said.
Ali Larijani, of the Supreme National Security Council, said putting on trial the 15 Royal Navy personnel, held since 23 March, was not Tehran's priority. Ali Larijani, of the Supreme National Security Council, told state radio the issue would be resolved if the two countries "continue this path".
The Foreign Office said it was studying his remarks, made to Channel 4 News. The UK Foreign Office said talks were continuing with a "more positive feel".
But officials said they shared Mr Larijani's "desire to make early progress" and would respond later. Iran accuses the crew of straying into its waters on 23 March. The British insist they were in Iraqi territory.
A Foreign Office statement said: "There remain some differences between us, but we can confirm we share [Mr Larijani's] preference for early bilateral discussions to find a diplomatic solution to this problem." Mr Larijani, who is Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and head of the powerful security council, hinted that fresh talks between his country and Britain had opened on Friday.
Mr Larijani, who is Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and head of the powerful security council, also called on the UK government to send a delegation to Iran to discuss the case. He told Iranian state radio: "The British government has started some diplomatic talks with the Iranian Foreign Ministry. They are only at the beginning.
Arthur Batchelor was among those shown in the latest Iranian footageArthur Batchelor was among those shown in the latest Iranian footage
But speaking through an interpreter, he insisted the Iranians were "100%" sure of their version of events and warned the "language of force" from the UK and its international allies was causing problems. "If they continue this path they can change the situation logically... in such a way that the issue is resolved."
"Definitely our priority would not be trial, except that the UK government would be insisting on not solving the problem through diplomatic channels," he said. But UK officials later said that no new negotiations had begun - although talks had been continuing since the sailors and marines were captured.
"Our priority is to solve the problem through diplomatic channels. We are not interested in having this issue get further complicated." Mr Larijani has previously said he was committed to solving the crisis through diplomacy, and that putting the crew on trial was "not a priority".
He said the sailors and marines had been in Iranian territorial waters when captured in the northern Gulf on 23 March and "a guarantee must be given that such violations will not be repeated". But he insisted in an interview with Channel 4 News on Monday he was "100%" sure that the navy crew had been in Iranian waters when they were picked up in the northern Gulf on 23 March.
"A guarantee must be given that such violations will not be repeated," he said.
The UK insists they were in Iraqi waters after returning from searching a merchant vessel.The UK insists they were in Iraqi waters after returning from searching a merchant vessel.
UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian watersUK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters
British shadow foreign secretary William Hague warned that the situation "requires renewed patience and the calm". British shadow foreign secretary William Hague has warned that the situation "requires renewed patience and calm".
"We shouldn't get over-excited about an occasional positive signal. We shouldn't get overly depressed about an occasional negative signal," he said."We shouldn't get over-excited about an occasional positive signal. We shouldn't get overly depressed about an occasional negative signal," he said.
It is understood that one area that has been under discussion between the UK and Iran is how future disputes over the contested waters may be avoided.It is understood that one area that has been under discussion between the UK and Iran is how future disputes over the contested waters may be avoided.
Earlier on Monday, Iran said all 15 personnel had been filmed admitting they were in Iranian territorial waters at the time of capture by Iranian Revolutionary Guards.Earlier on Monday, Iran said all 15 personnel had been filmed admitting they were in Iranian territorial waters at the time of capture by Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
However, Iranian state radio said the new footage would not be broadcast on TV because of "positive changes" in the UK's stance.However, Iranian state radio said the new footage would not be broadcast on TV because of "positive changes" in the UK's stance.
Previously unseen images of some of the crew, based on HMS Cornwall, were aired on Monday but their voices could not be heard.Previously unseen images of some of the crew, based on HMS Cornwall, were aired on Monday but their voices could not be heard.
IRANIAN VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Royal Navy crew stray 0.5km inside Iranian waters 2 Iran gives set of co-ordinates to back up their claims 3 According to seized GPS equipment, the Royal Navy crew had previously entered Iranian waters at several other points 4 Iran informs Britain of the position where the crew were seized, inside Iranian waters Both versions in more detailIRANIAN VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Royal Navy crew stray 0.5km inside Iranian waters 2 Iran gives set of co-ordinates to back up their claims 3 According to seized GPS equipment, the Royal Navy crew had previously entered Iranian waters at several other points 4 Iran informs Britain of the position where the crew were seized, inside Iranian waters Both versions in more detail
One of those seen for the first time was 20-year-old Arthur Batchelor, whose sister told the BBC she was relieved to see him looking "tired but fine".One of those seen for the first time was 20-year-old Arthur Batchelor, whose sister told the BBC she was relieved to see him looking "tired but fine".
"It gave us a bit more reassurance," said Maggie Phillips, who lives in Plymouth."It gave us a bit more reassurance," said Maggie Phillips, who lives in Plymouth.
The Foreign Office is standing by its view that the crew, serving on HMS Cornwall, which is based in Plymouth, were detained against their will in Iraqi territory.The Foreign Office is standing by its view that the crew, serving on HMS Cornwall, which is based in Plymouth, were detained against their will in Iraqi territory.
"We have not had consular access, we have made it quite clear they were seized in Iraqi waters, and we want them released," a spokesman said."We have not had consular access, we have made it quite clear they were seized in Iraqi waters, and we want them released," a spokesman said.
So far, Iranian TV has shown footage of four of the crew making statements in which they said they had been in Iranian waters.So far, Iranian TV has shown footage of four of the crew making statements in which they said they had been in Iranian waters.
The Foreign Office has said showing the group on TV is "unacceptable" and it had "grave concerns" over the circumstances under which any statements were made.The Foreign Office has said showing the group on TV is "unacceptable" and it had "grave concerns" over the circumstances under which any statements were made.