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| Version 16 | Version 17 |
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| UK sees promise in Iran contacts | UK sees promise in Iran contacts |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair believes Iran wants to achieve an "early resolution" to the crisis over the Royal Navy crew through direct talks, Downing Street has said. | Tony Blair believes Iran wants to achieve an "early resolution" to the crisis over the Royal Navy crew through direct talks, Downing Street has said. |
| A statement was issued after further UK contact with Iran, including directly with its chief negotiator Ali Larijani. | A statement was issued after further UK contact with Iran, including directly with its chief negotiator Ali Larijani. |
| However, both countries continue to dispute whether the 15 crew were in Iran's waters when seized on 23 March. | However, both countries continue to dispute whether the 15 crew were in Iran's waters when seized on 23 March. |
| Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to refer to the incident in a news briefing currently taking place. | |
| So far there has been no official Iranian response to the UK's proposal for direct bilateral talks. | So far there has been no official Iranian response to the UK's proposal for direct bilateral talks. |
| But Iran's parliament speaker Gholamali Haddadadel welcomed the "change in tone" from the UK. | But Iran's parliament speaker Gholamali Haddadadel welcomed the "change in tone" from the UK. |
| According to Iran's official IRNA news agency, telephone talks between Mr Larijani and Mr Blair's chief foreign policy advisor Sir Nigel Sheinwald took place on Tuesday. | According to Iran's official IRNA news agency, telephone talks between Mr Larijani and Mr Blair's chief foreign policy advisor Sir Nigel Sheinwald took place on Tuesday. |
| Downing Street's statement said: "The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means". | Downing Street's statement said: "The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means". |
| Profile: UK captives Why are the crew on TV? | Profile: UK captives Why are the crew on TV? |
| Meanwhile, reports say an Iranian envoy is expected to meet five Iranians detained by US forces in Iraq since January for the first time. | Meanwhile, reports say an Iranian envoy is expected to meet five Iranians detained by US forces in Iraq since January for the first time. |
| The report from IRNA, which was not confirmed by the US, comes amid suggestions that the navy crew's case could be improved by a release. | The report from IRNA, which was not confirmed by the US, comes amid suggestions that the navy crew's case could be improved by a release. |
| Iran says the five are diplomats, while the US claims the men were providing support to militants in Iraq. | Iran says the five are diplomats, while the US claims the men were providing support to militants in Iraq. |
| 'Encouraging signs' | 'Encouraging signs' |
| Mr Larijani, of the Supreme National Security Council, hinted on Tuesday that a new phase in the talks with Britain had been started. | Mr Larijani, of the Supreme National Security Council, hinted on Tuesday that a new phase in the talks with Britain had been started. |
| But Downing Street's statement came after Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had urged caution over hopes that the sailors and marines held by Iran may soon be freed. | But Downing Street's statement came after Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had urged caution over hopes that the sailors and marines held by Iran may soon be freed. |
| 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 Dividing lines of Shatt al-Arab | 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 Dividing lines of Shatt al-Arab |
| She said people had read a lot into remarks by the prime minister earlier in the day about talks with Iran entering a "critical" 48 hours. | She said people had read a lot into remarks by the prime minister earlier in the day about talks with Iran entering a "critical" 48 hours. |
| Her comments were echoed by Home Secretary John Reid, who welcomed the contact with Iran but said there was no timescale for resolving the crisis. | Her comments were echoed by Home Secretary John Reid, who welcomed the contact with Iran but said there was no timescale for resolving the crisis. |
| "I can't put a time limit on this," he told GMTV. "The key thing here is that contact has been made." | "I can't put a time limit on this," he told GMTV. "The key thing here is that contact has been made." |
| Dual aims | Dual aims |
| On Tuesday, new photographs were released showing the Royal Navy crew. | On Tuesday, new photographs were released showing the Royal Navy crew. |
| The crew, from Plymouth-based HMS Cornwall, can be seen wearing tracksuits, smiling and playing chess. | The crew, from Plymouth-based HMS Cornwall, can be seen wearing tracksuits, smiling and playing chess. |
| 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 Iran's centres of power 'Access' to Iraq detainees | 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 Iran's centres of power 'Access' to Iraq detainees |
| Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, is not wearing a headscarf as she had in previous TV footage. | Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, is not wearing a headscarf as she had in previous TV footage. |
| The naval personnel have been held captive since being seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the northern Gulf last month. | The naval personnel have been held captive since being seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the northern Gulf last month. |
| Iran says they strayed into its territorial waters, but the UK maintains they were in Iraqi waters after returning from searching a merchant vessel. | Iran says they strayed into its territorial waters, but the UK maintains they were in Iraqi waters after returning from searching a merchant vessel. |
| Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman has had talks with the Iranian ambassador in London eight times since the crew's capture. | Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman has had talks with the Iranian ambassador in London eight times since the crew's capture. |
| It is understood that one area under discussion between the two countries is how future disputes over the contested Shatt al-Arab waterway may be avoided. | It is understood that one area under discussion between the two countries is how future disputes over the contested Shatt al-Arab waterway may be avoided. |