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| Iran talks critical, says Blair | Iran talks critical, says Blair |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The next two days will be a "fairly critical" phase in the talks to free the 15 Royal Navy personnel captured by Iran, Tony Blair has said. | The next two days will be a "fairly critical" phase in the talks to free the 15 Royal Navy personnel captured by Iran, Tony Blair has said. |
| The prime minister said he was "not looking for confrontation" and "the most important thing is to get the people back safe and sound". | The prime minister said he was "not looking for confrontation" and "the most important thing is to get the people back safe and sound". |
| Earlier, a Tehran official said the issue could be resolved by negotiation. | Earlier, a Tehran official said the issue could be resolved by negotiation. |
| Iran accuses the crew of straying into its waters on 23 March. The British insist they were in Iraqi territory. | Iran accuses the crew of straying into its waters on 23 March. The British insist they were in Iraqi territory. |
| Ali Larijani, of the Supreme National Security Council, hinted on Tuesday that a new phase in the talks with Britain had been started on Tuesday. | Ali Larijani, of the Supreme National Security Council, hinted on Tuesday that a new phase in the talks with Britain had been started on Tuesday. |
| Mr Larijani, who is also Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, told Iranian state radio: "The British government has started some diplomatic talks with the Iranian Foreign Ministry. They are only at the beginning. | Mr Larijani, who is also Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, told Iranian state radio: "The British government has started some diplomatic talks with the Iranian Foreign Ministry. They are only at the beginning. |
| Profile: UK captives | Profile: UK captives |
| "If they continue this path they can change the situation logically... in such a way that the issue is resolved." | "If they continue this path they can change the situation logically... in such a way that the issue is resolved." |
| Mr Blair said he had read the transcript of Mr Larijani's speech and it "seems to offer some prospect but the most important thing is to get these people back". | Mr Blair said he had read the transcript of Mr Larijani's speech and it "seems to offer some prospect but the most important thing is to get these people back". |
| He said from the start of the talks, Britain had two tracks - firstly to make Iran understand that "the pressure is there", and secondly that the "door is open" to diplomacy. | He said from the start of the talks, Britain had two tracks - firstly to make Iran understand that "the pressure is there", and secondly that the "door is open" to diplomacy. |
| Later, he added that if "peaceful, calm negotiation" to get the crew back was not possible the UK would have to take "increasingly tougher decisions". | Later, he added that if "peaceful, calm negotiation" to get the crew back was not possible the UK would have to take "increasingly tougher decisions". |
| After his comments Iranian TV said Mr Blair had taken a "hardline" stance. | |
| A new photograph of some of the crew, including Leading Seaman Faye Turney, was also released after Mr Blair's comments showing them wearing casual clothes for the first time. | |
| Speaking at a press conference US President George Bush said there should be no "quid pro quo" in negotiating the British crew's release. | |
| There have been suggestions that the release of five Iranian officials held by the US since January could positively affect the navy personnel's case. | |
| 'Guarantee essential' | 'Guarantee essential' |
| The BBC's Jim Muir, in Baghdad, said senior Iraqi officials were working separately to secure the release of the British crew and the five Iranians held by the US. | |
| Earlier, Mr Larijani said he was committed to solving the crisis through diplomacy, and that putting the crew on trial was "not a priority". | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 waters Both versions in more detail | |
| "A guarantee must be given that such violations will not be repeated," he said. | "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. |
| British shadow foreign secretary William Hague has warned that the situation "requires renewed patience and 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. |
| 'Positive changes' | 'Positive changes' |
| 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 Profile: Ali Larijani href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6521871.stm">Iran's centres of power | |
| 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. |