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| UK sees promise in Iran contacts | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair believes the UK and Iran both want to use direct talks to achieve an early resolution to the navy crew crisis, Downing Street has said. | |
| Its comments came after further contact with Tehran, including directly with security chief Ali Larijani. | |
| "The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means," it said in a statement. | |
| "The UK has proposed direct bilateral discussions and awaits an Iranian response on when these can begin." | |
| The statement came after a day in which Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had urged caution over hopes that the 15 sailors held by Iran may soon be freed. | |
| She said people had read a lot into remarks by the prime minister in which he said the next two days would be a "critical" phase in talks. | |
| Meanwhile, new photographs have been released showing the Royal Navy crew in casual clothes. | Meanwhile, new photographs have been released showing the Royal Navy crew in casual clothes. |
| Iran accuses them of straying into its waters on 23 March. The British insist they were in Iraqi territory. | Iran accuses them of straying into its waters on 23 March. The British insist they were in Iraqi territory. |
| Mrs Beckett said "we should be cautious in thinking that we're likely to see a swift solution in this issue... diplomatic efforts continue". | Mrs Beckett said "we should be cautious in thinking that we're likely to see a swift solution in this issue... diplomatic efforts continue". |
| 'Discussions preferred' | 'Discussions preferred' |
| She added that "some people have read a lot into the prime minister's remarks". | She added that "some people have read a lot into the prime minister's remarks". |
| She stressed the prime minister was "not intending to imply anything about military action" and pointed out the UK shares Iran's "preference for bi-lateral discussions". | She stressed the prime minister was "not intending to imply anything about military action" and pointed out the UK shares Iran's "preference for bi-lateral discussions". |
| Profile: UK captives | Profile: UK captives |
| Earlier, Mr Blair said that, from the start of talks with Iran, Britain had two tracks - firstly to make Iran understand that "the pressure is there", and secondly that the "door is open" to diplomacy. | Earlier, Mr Blair said that, from the start of talks with Iran, 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". |
| He spoke after Ali Larijani, of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, hinted that a new phase in the talks with Britain had been started. | He spoke after Ali Larijani, of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, hinted that a new phase in the talks with Britain had been started. |
| 'Talks beginning' | 'Talks 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. | 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. |
| "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." |
| 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 |
| But, later on Tuesday Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoudi called on Britain to accept that its personnel had crossed into Iran's waters. | But, later on Tuesday Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoudi called on Britain to accept that its personnel had crossed into Iran's waters. |
| "Certainly, if Britain accepts that they have illegally trespassed into Iran and guarantee that they won't repeat it, the issue will obviously become negotiable and can be resolved through a rational process," he said. | "Certainly, if Britain accepts that they have illegally trespassed into Iran and guarantee that they won't repeat it, the issue will obviously become negotiable and can be resolved through a rational process," he said. |
| The Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman was on Tuesday night again in talks with the Iranian ambassador in London - their eighth meeting since the British crew were seized on March 23. | The Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman was on Tuesday night again in talks with the Iranian ambassador in London - their eighth meeting since the British crew were seized on March 23. |
| Also on Tuesday Iran released new photographs of some of the crew, including Leading Seaman Faye Turney, showing them wearing casual clothes for the first time. | Also on Tuesday Iran released new photographs of some of the crew, including Leading Seaman Faye Turney, showing them wearing casual clothes for the first time. |
| In one photo some of the Royal Navy personnel are shown sitting on the floor wearing tracksuits and smiling. | In one photo some of the Royal Navy personnel are shown sitting on the floor wearing tracksuits and smiling. |
| 'Very distressing' | 'Very distressing' |
| LS Turney is not wearing a headscarf as she has in previous TV footage released by the Iranians. | LS Turney is not wearing a headscarf as she has in previous TV footage released by the Iranians. |
| Another picture shows two members of the crew playing chess. | Another picture shows two members of the crew playing chess. |
| Meanwhile, the names of some more of the service personnel being held have been confirmed. | Meanwhile, the names of some more of the service personnel being held have been confirmed. |
| The BBC can confirm that Leading Seaman Christopher Coe, from the Dalton area of Huddersfield, is among the captives. | The BBC can confirm that Leading Seaman Christopher Coe, from the Dalton area of Huddersfield, is among the captives. |
| And the family of Operator Maintainer Simon Massey, who is also being held, said they were going through a "very distressing time" at the moment. | And the family of Operator Maintainer Simon Massey, who is also being held, said they were going through a "very distressing time" at the moment. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Meanwhile, the family of Royal Marine Joe Tindall have said they are "immensely proud" of him. | Meanwhile, the family of Royal Marine Joe Tindall have said they are "immensely proud" of him. |
| US President George Bush described the Iranian seizure of the crew as "indefensible". | US President George Bush described the Iranian seizure of the crew as "indefensible". |
| "I support the Blair government's attempts to solve this issue peacefully," he said. | "I support the Blair government's attempts to solve this issue peacefully," he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The UK insists the 15 Britons were in Iraqi waters after returning from searching a merchant vessel. | The UK insists the 15 Britons were in Iraqi waters after returning from searching a merchant vessel. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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". |
| 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. |