A video grab from footage shown on
Iranian television on April 2, 2007, shows members of the group of 15
detained British sailors and marines after media reported the whole group
had admitted to entering Iranian water illegally. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo)
TEHRAN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Britain has started talks with Tehran on resolving
the standoff over the capture of 15 British sailors, local media reported here
Tuesday, citing a senior official's confirmation.
The talks are being held between the British
government and the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the state-run television quoted
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani as saying.
The official, however, told the TV media that it is "only
at the beginning", adding "things can change and we could go towards an end of
this issue if they continue on this path."
Some conciliatory tones have emerged from both capitals in
the past one day, raising some hopes of resolving this crisis soon.
Larijani on Monday has said Iran's priority is to resolve
the problem through proper diplomatic channels, and "there's no need to have a
trial on the detained sailors".
The British government responded later Monday by
saying "we confirm we share his (Larijani) preference for early bilateral
discussions to find a diplomatic solution to this problem".
Iran's tension with Britain has escalated a lot since
Tehran aired three footage of the detained sailors and the large-scale protest
against British embassy Sunday by the Islamist students.
Iran's state television said Monday all the 15 captured
sailors and marines have already "confessed" their illegal entry of the Iranian
territorial waters.
The semi-official ISNA news agency also reported that
the 15 British sailors had admitted in details to camera on their illegal entry
issue.
"But due to the positive changes in the past two days
by the British government, the television will not broadcast the interviews,"
said the report.
The ISNA didn't elaborate what "positive changes"
are, but an unnamed British official said Monday his country had agreed to
discuss with Tehran to avoid disputes in contested waters in Gulf region in the
future.
In the latest video footage released Sunday, two
seized British naval personnel have admitted to illegally entering Iranian
waters.
TEHRAN, April 2 (Xinhua)-- All 15 British sailors captured
by Iranian forces confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters, thestate
television reported on Monday. Full story
LONDON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The "stage-managed"
appearances of detained British sailors on Iranian television would not affect
Britain's demand for an unconditional release, Prime Minister Tony Blair's
spokesman said on Monday. Full story
TEHRAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad on Saturday accused the West of their "arrogant" stance on the
British sailors detention issue, insisting the British soldiers trespassed the
Iranian waters, the official IRNA news agency reported. Full story
TEHRAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran warned on Saturday that
theBritish government should not politicize the seizure issue of its15 sailors
if it wants to find a solution, local media reported. Full story
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