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UK sees promise in Iran contacts UK sees promise in Iran contacts
(30 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 Tehran, including directly with security chief Ali Larijani. A statement was issued late on Tuesday after further UK contact with Iran, including directly with its security chief Ali Larijani.
"The UK has proposed direct bilateral discussions and awaits a... response on when these can begin," it said. The UK had proposed direct bilateral talks and awaited a response, 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' 'Encouraging signs'
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 captivesProfile: 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 aimsDual 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-ArabUK 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 powerIRANIAN 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. Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of Iranian newspaper Keyhan, said talk of a critical 48 hours was "laughable".
"They have been giving us deadlines since the revolution and they have never been able to achieve any," he added.
Bush backingBush backing
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.
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.