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Iran seeks goodwill over captives Iran seeks goodwill over captives
(about 2 hours later)
Iran's ambassador to London has said Britain should respond "in a positive way" to the release of the 15 Royal Navy personnel held for 13 days.Iran's ambassador to London has said Britain should respond "in a positive way" to the release of the 15 Royal Navy personnel held for 13 days.
Rasoul Movahedian told the Financial Times Iran wanted help to release five Iranians held in Iraq and to ease fears globally about its nuclear programme. Rasoul Movahedian said that Iran wanted help to release five Iranians held by the US in Iraq, and to ease fears over its nuclear programme.
He said: "If they [the British] want to be helpful and use their influence we will welcome that. He told the Financial Times: "If [the British] want to be helpful and use their influence we will welcome that."
The crew have two weeks' compassionate leave to spend with their families.The crew have two weeks' compassionate leave to spend with their families.
Iran has said a press conference where the crew described being bound and held alone was "theatrical propaganda" that did not justify their "mistake".Iran has said a press conference where the crew described being bound and held alone was "theatrical propaganda" that did not justify their "mistake".
Mr Movahedian told the FT: "We played our part and we showed our good will... now it is up to the British government to proceed in a positive way," he said.Mr Movahedian told the FT: "We played our part and we showed our good will... now it is up to the British government to proceed in a positive way," he said.
Someone said, I quote, 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed' Royal Marine Joe Tindell Captives: Key quotesSomeone said, I quote, 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed' Royal Marine Joe Tindell Captives: Key quotes
He denied that the release of the crew was linked to the case of the Iranians being detained in Iraq or any other case.He denied that the release of the crew was linked to the case of the Iranians being detained in Iraq or any other case.
But he added: "If they [the British] want to be helpful and use their influence we will welcome that.But he added: "If they [the British] want to be helpful and use their influence we will welcome that.
"We will welcome in general any steps that could defuse tensions in the region.""We will welcome in general any steps that could defuse tensions in the region."
But the BBC's Jill McGivering told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The key in all of this is how the US feels. The ambassador also suggested the resolution of the dispute should be used as an opportunity to open up dialogue between Iran and the UK.
"It is all very well talking about a plea for the UK to use its influence on the US but so far there are no signs from Washington at all that they give Iran any kind of credit for the way they have handled this." "We share in the British people's happiness and we believe it is the right time for the British government to affirm its willingness to establish sensible lines of communication with Iran," he said.
The BBC's Jill McGivering told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that some analysts believed "a face-saving compromise was worked out after Britain and Iraq opened up a new, high level and direct channel of communication".
'Key' US role
She added: "That has led to debate about whether a similar approach could also be applied to larger disputes with Iran from the nuclear issue to its involvement in Iraq."
However, our correspondent argued that "the key" to Western links with Iran depended on "how the US feels".
"It is all very well talking about a plea for the UK to use its influence on the US but so far there are no signs from Washington at all that they give Iran any kind of credit for the way they have handled this," she said.
On Friday, at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, Devon, the crew said they were told by their captors that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured they faced seven years in prison.On Friday, at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, Devon, the crew said they were told by their captors that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured they faced seven years in prison.
'Planned intent''Planned intent'
The officer in charge, Lieutenant Felix Carman, 26, of Swansea, said the sailors and marines were 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters when they were captured.The officer in charge, Lieutenant Felix Carman, 26, of Swansea, said the sailors and marines were 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters when they were captured.
Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation allowed under a UN mandate" but that the Iranians had a "planned intent."Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation allowed under a UN mandate" but that the Iranians had a "planned intent."
Lt Carman, said they were taken to a prison in Tehran where they were stripped and dressed in pyjamas.Lt Carman, said they were taken to a prison in Tehran where they were stripped and dressed in pyjamas.
They were kept in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and held in isolation until the last few nights and frequently interrogated.They were kept in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and held in isolation until the last few nights and frequently interrogated.
The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, believed for at least four days that she was the only one still being held.The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, believed for at least four days that she was the only one still being held.
Royal Marine Joe Tindell told how they feared for their lives in prison.
'Standard procedure'
"We had a blindfold and plastic cuffs, hands behind our backs, heads against the wall. Basically there were weapons cocking. Someone, I'm not sure who, someone said, I quote, 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed'."
"After that comment someone was sick and as far as I was concerned he had just had his throat cut."
The BBC's Frances Harrison, in Tehran, said Iran feels the press conference revelations were the result of sailors "being briefed" by the UK government who "dictated to them [the sailors]".The BBC's Frances Harrison, in Tehran, said Iran feels the press conference revelations were the result of sailors "being briefed" by the UK government who "dictated to them [the sailors]".
She pointed out that Iran said it was "standard procedure" for military personnel who intruded into Iran to be held in isolation, and said they compared their captivity to the way people are held at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.She pointed out that Iran said it was "standard procedure" for military personnel who intruded into Iran to be held in isolation, and said they compared their captivity to the way people are held at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
Our correspondent said the Iranian press has also cast doubt on the testimonies of those who were held, as well as reporting that Tehran had enjoyed a "victory" because the UK had suspended its operations in the Persian Gulf.
The navy is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident and the wider rules of engagement for UK forces operating in the area.The navy is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident and the wider rules of engagement for UK forces operating in the area.