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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| UK sees promise in Iran contacts | UK sees promise in Iran contacts |
| (about 1 hour 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. | |
| A statement was issued after further UK contact with Tehran, including directly with security chief Ali Larijani. | A statement was issued after further UK contact with Tehran, including directly with security chief Ali Larijani. |
| "The UK has proposed direct bilateral discussions and awaits a... response on when these can begin," it said. | "The UK has proposed direct bilateral discussions and awaits a... response on when these can begin," it said. |
| 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. |
| "The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means," Downing Street's statement, issued late on Tuesday, stressed. | "The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means," Downing Street's statement, issued late on Tuesday, stressed. |
| 'Tougher decisions' | 'Tougher decisions' |
| It came hours after Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had urged caution over hopes that the 15 sailors and marines held by Iran may soon be freed. | It came hours after Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had urged caution over hopes that the 15 sailors and marines held by Iran may soon be freed. |
| 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. |
| Profile: UK captives | Profile: UK captives |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said No 10's statement did appear to be an encouraging sign. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said No 10's statement did appear to be an encouraging sign. |
| And the fact it was released late on Tuesday suggested officials were "excited" about progress, she said. | And the fact it was released late on Tuesday suggested officials were "excited" about progress, she said. |
| In other developments on Tuesday, new photographs were released showing the Royal Navy crew in casual clothes. | In other developments on Tuesday, new photographs were released showing the Royal Navy crew in casual clothes. |
| In the latest images the crew, from Plymouth-based HMS Cornwall, are shown wearing tracksuits, smiling and playing chess. | In the latest images the crew, from Plymouth-based HMS Cornwall, are shown wearing tracksuits, smiling and playing chess. |
| Leading Seaman Faye Turney is not wearing a headscarf as she has in previous TV footage. | Leading Seaman Faye Turney is not wearing a headscarf as she has in previous TV footage. |
| Dual aims | Dual aims |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| In comments before No 10's statement, Mr Blair said the UK had two aims - firstly to make Iran understand that "the pressure is there" and secondly to ensure the "door is open" to diplomacy. | In comments before No 10's statement, Mr Blair said the UK had two aims - firstly to make Iran understand that "the pressure is there" and secondly to ensure the "door is open" to diplomacy. |
| He added if "peaceful, calm negotiation" was not possible, the UK would have to take "increasingly tougher decisions". | He added if "peaceful, calm negotiation" was not possible, the UK would have to take "increasingly tougher decisions". |
| The prime minister spoke after Mr Larijani hinted to Iranian state radio that a new phase in the talks with the UK had begun. | The prime minister spoke after Mr Larijani hinted to Iranian state radio that a new phase in the talks with the UK had begun. |
| 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 |
| "If they continue this path they can change the situation logically... in such a way that the issue is resolved," he said. | "If they continue this path they can change the situation logically... in such a way that the issue is resolved," he said. |
| But Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoudi insisted the UK still had to admit its personnel had crossed into Iran's waters. | But Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoudi insisted the UK still had to admit 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. |
| 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. |
| Bush backing | Bush backing |
| 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. |
| US President George Bush has described the crew's capture as "indefensible" and said he backed the UK's efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully. | US President George Bush has described the crew's capture as "indefensible" and said he backed the UK's efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully. |
| There have been suggestions that the crew's case could be improved by the release of five Iranian officials held by the US since January. | There have been suggestions that the crew's case could be improved by the release of five Iranian officials held by the US since January. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir, in Baghdad, said senior Iraq officials were negotiating with the US embassy and the US military over the issue. | The BBC's Jim Muir, in Baghdad, said senior Iraq officials were negotiating with the US embassy and the US military over the issue. |