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'No deal done with Iran' - Blair 'No deal done with Iran' - Blair
(30 minutes later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has insisted no deal was done to free 15 Royal Navy crew members, as they arrived in the UK after being held in Iran for 13 days.Prime Minister Tony Blair has insisted no deal was done to free 15 Royal Navy crew members, as they arrived in the UK after being held in Iran for 13 days.
They were released "without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature," he said.They were released "without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature," he said.
He welcomed their release, but also mourned four soldiers killed in Basra.He welcomed their release, but also mourned four soldiers killed in Basra.
While new lines of communication had opened with Iran, he said the UK would not stand for attempts to get nuclear weapons or to support terrorism.While new lines of communication had opened with Iran, he said the UK would not stand for attempts to get nuclear weapons or to support terrorism.
"At the same time as we are open to bilateral dialogue and to pursue the lines of communication that have been opened up in the last two weeks, we have to hold absolutely firm in relation to support from any aspect of the Iranian regime for terrorism," he said."At the same time as we are open to bilateral dialogue and to pursue the lines of communication that have been opened up in the last two weeks, we have to hold absolutely firm in relation to support from any aspect of the Iranian regime for terrorism," he said.
'Terrorist act''Terrorist act'
Speaking as the Royal Navy crew arrived back at Heathrow, Mr Blair said he rejoiced at their return.Speaking as the Royal Navy crew arrived back at Heathrow, Mr Blair said he rejoiced at their return.
But it had to be tempered with the "ugly reality" of the deaths of four British soldiers in Iraq, killed by "a terrorist act" in Basra.But it had to be tempered with the "ugly reality" of the deaths of four British soldiers in Iraq, killed by "a terrorist act" in Basra.
The general picture ... is there are elements at least of the Iranian regime that are backing, financing, arming, terrorism in Iraq Tony BlairThe general picture ... is there are elements at least of the Iranian regime that are backing, financing, arming, terrorism in Iraq Tony Blair
The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday that four soldiers had been killed in a roadside bomb blast and a fifth was seriously injured.The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday that four soldiers had been killed in a roadside bomb blast and a fifth was seriously injured.
Mr Blair said it was "far too early" to point to any Iranian involvement in that particular attack.Mr Blair said it was "far too early" to point to any Iranian involvement in that particular attack.
But he added: "The general picture, as I have said before, is there are elements at least of the Iranian regime that are backing, financing, arming, terrorism in Iraq."But he added: "The general picture, as I have said before, is there are elements at least of the Iranian regime that are backing, financing, arming, terrorism in Iraq."
Revolutionary GuardRevolutionary Guard
The Royal Navy crew members had disembarked from HMS Cornwall in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.The Royal Navy crew members had disembarked from HMS Cornwall in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
The Iranians accused the crew of straying into its waters - the British say they were in Iraqi territory.The Iranians accused the crew of straying into its waters - the British say they were in Iraqi territory.
Mr Blair was asked if the UK had promised not to stray into its waters, Mr Blair said British forces should not be in Iranian waters - but added "it is our contention that they weren't".Mr Blair was asked if the UK had promised not to stray into its waters, Mr Blair said British forces should not be in Iranian waters - but added "it is our contention that they weren't".
The crew are being flown by helicopter from HeathrowThe crew are being flown by helicopter from Heathrow
He was also denied suggestions that an Iranian official held in Iraq had been released and that consular access had been granted to others.He was also denied suggestions that an Iranian official held in Iraq had been released and that consular access had been granted to others.
He added: "What has actually happened it that we have managed to secure the release of our personnel I think more quickly than many people anticipated - and have done so incidentally, and I want to make this very, very clear - without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature whatever.He added: "What has actually happened it that we have managed to secure the release of our personnel I think more quickly than many people anticipated - and have done so incidentally, and I want to make this very, very clear - without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature whatever.
"We made it clear at the outset we weren't going to do that and we held firm to that position throughout"."We made it clear at the outset we weren't going to do that and we held firm to that position throughout".
'Huge setback''Huge setback'
He also defended the government's "dual-track strategy" during the crisis - saying they had been open to talks with Iran, but it had also been important to mobilise international support - amid criticism that it had angered Iran.He also defended the government's "dual-track strategy" during the crisis - saying they had been open to talks with Iran, but it had also been important to mobilise international support - amid criticism that it had angered Iran.
"In my view it would be utterly naive to believe that our personnel would have been released unless both elements of the strategy had been present," he said."In my view it would be utterly naive to believe that our personnel would have been released unless both elements of the strategy had been present," he said.
The 15 navy personnel are being flown by helicopter to Royal Marines Barracks Chivenor in Devon, where they will be de-briefed and given thorough health checks. A senior government source told the BBC there had been a lot of willingness from the governments in the region and Arab world to lobby Iran, and this had an impact - as did a swift UN Security Council statement.
He added that while no deal was done by the UK over Iranians being held in Iraq, it could not be ruled out that the Iraqi government took some sort of initiative.
Later Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, a member of the Defence Select Committee, said the whole affair had allowed Iran to divert attention away from its nuclear programme.Later Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, a member of the Defence Select Committee, said the whole affair had allowed Iran to divert attention away from its nuclear programme.
He told the BBC: "We have had a huge setback. We should have spent the last few weeks discussing the UN sanctions that were applied two weeks ago - funnily enough at the same time as these servicemen were captured."He told the BBC: "We have had a huge setback. We should have spent the last few weeks discussing the UN sanctions that were applied two weeks ago - funnily enough at the same time as these servicemen were captured."
The 15 navy personnel are being reunited with their families at the Royal Marines Barracks Chivenor in Devon.