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03/04/2007
Next 48 hours 'critical' in Iran crisis
The next two days will be "fairly critical" in the bid to secure the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel detained in Iran, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.
Mr Blair said: "The most important thing is to get our people back safe and sound."
Ali Larjani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told Iranian state radio that diplomatic talks had begun between the British government and the Iranian foreign ministry over the crisis.
On Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that new pictures had been released of the Britons, showing them talking, eating, drinking coffee and playing chess.
Iranian forces captured the British sailors and marines on March 23. The crew from HMS Cornwall were taking part in a routine operation in the Shatt Al Arab waterway when they were detained.
Iran claimed that the Britons had strayed into their waters. However, the British government denied this and last week, the Ministry of Defence released evidence confirming that the personnel were 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi territory when they were seized.
On Monday, Iran said that all the Britons had admitted that they illegally entered the country's waters.
Previous footage of four crew members - three men and one woman - have been broadcast on Iranian television showing the Britons saying that they had entered Iran's waters.
Footage of Faye Turney - the only woman among those captured - and Nathan Summers was broadcast last week, while footage featuring Royal Marine Captain Chris Air and Lieutenant Felix Carman was broadcast at the weekend.
Footage of the alleged confessions of all the Britons was not shown on Iranian television. An Iranian news agency said that the footage was not being aired because of recent changes in the British government's "clamorous" policies.
However, later on Monday, previously unseen images of the Britons were shown on Iranian television although their voices could not be heard.
The Foreign Office said that showing the footage on television was unacceptable.
(KMcA/SP)
Mr Blair said: "The most important thing is to get our people back safe and sound."
Ali Larjani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told Iranian state radio that diplomatic talks had begun between the British government and the Iranian foreign ministry over the crisis.
On Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that new pictures had been released of the Britons, showing them talking, eating, drinking coffee and playing chess.
Iranian forces captured the British sailors and marines on March 23. The crew from HMS Cornwall were taking part in a routine operation in the Shatt Al Arab waterway when they were detained.
Iran claimed that the Britons had strayed into their waters. However, the British government denied this and last week, the Ministry of Defence released evidence confirming that the personnel were 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi territory when they were seized.
On Monday, Iran said that all the Britons had admitted that they illegally entered the country's waters.
Previous footage of four crew members - three men and one woman - have been broadcast on Iranian television showing the Britons saying that they had entered Iran's waters.
Footage of Faye Turney - the only woman among those captured - and Nathan Summers was broadcast last week, while footage featuring Royal Marine Captain Chris Air and Lieutenant Felix Carman was broadcast at the weekend.
Footage of the alleged confessions of all the Britons was not shown on Iranian television. An Iranian news agency said that the footage was not being aired because of recent changes in the British government's "clamorous" policies.
However, later on Monday, previously unseen images of the Britons were shown on Iranian television although their voices could not be heard.
The Foreign Office said that showing the footage on television was unacceptable.
(KMcA/SP)
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All 15 British sailors and marines detained in Iran have admitted that they illegally entered the country's waters, Iranian state radio has reported. Previous footage of four crew members - three men and one woman - have been broadcast on Iranian television showing the Britons saying that they had entered Iran's waters.
British crew 'admit trespass'
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