Blair: We've 48 hours to save sailors
3rd April 2007
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Tony Blair said today the next 48 hours are crucial in negotiating the release of the British hostages.
The Prime Minister told Iran the "door is open" to a diplomatic deal.
He was responding to comments by a key player in the Iranian government who had raised hopes by referring to secret talks going on between his foreign ministry and the Foreign Office.
Iran's chief negotiator Dr Ali Larijani stressed such moves were at an early stage but added: "If they continue on this path, they can change the situation logically."
Referring to Dr Larijani's comments, Mr Blair said: "The next 48 hours will be fairly critical."
Hostage Arthur Batchelor (left) poses with Manchester United and England football star Wayne Rooney at a navy dinner
He said Dr Larijani had offered the prospect of an end to the crisis. "If they want to resolve this in a diplomatic way the door is open," said Mr Blair.
Fifteen Royal Marines and sailors were seized as they patrolled the Shatt al Arab waterway in the Gulf 12 days ago.
Some have been shown on TV making "confessions" that they strayed into Iranian waters. There have been fears of Tehran staging a show trial.
Some of the kidnapped sailors. Click enlarge for bigger picture
But Dr Larijani has stressed that his priority is to resolve the dispute by diplomatic means and without putting the captives on trial.
There was further optimism when Iran's firebrand president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cancelled a press conference at which he was due to speak on the fate of the captives.
The decision to postpone the media briefing gives a breathing space for the diplomatic moves.
Britain's former ambassador to Iran, Sir Richard Dalton, said he was cautiously optimistic following Dr Larijani's comments. He said: "It looks as though both sides are looking for a way to solve the crisis and to do so in the not-too-distant future."
Arthur also met former Brookside actress Claire Sweeney at the event
The UK insists the captives were taken from Iraqi, not Iranian, waters. Dr Larijani has suggested that he wants Britain to admit to its "mistake".
Britain may hold talks about how to avoid future clashes in the disputed waters between Iran and Iraq in which the 14 men and Leading Seaman Faye Turney were captured as they searched for smugglers.
dailymail.co.uk
3rd April 2007
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Tony Blair said today the next 48 hours are crucial in negotiating the release of the British hostages.
The Prime Minister told Iran the "door is open" to a diplomatic deal.
He was responding to comments by a key player in the Iranian government who had raised hopes by referring to secret talks going on between his foreign ministry and the Foreign Office.
Iran's chief negotiator Dr Ali Larijani stressed such moves were at an early stage but added: "If they continue on this path, they can change the situation logically."
Referring to Dr Larijani's comments, Mr Blair said: "The next 48 hours will be fairly critical."
Hostage Arthur Batchelor (left) poses with Manchester United and England football star Wayne Rooney at a navy dinner
He said Dr Larijani had offered the prospect of an end to the crisis. "If they want to resolve this in a diplomatic way the door is open," said Mr Blair.
Fifteen Royal Marines and sailors were seized as they patrolled the Shatt al Arab waterway in the Gulf 12 days ago.
Some have been shown on TV making "confessions" that they strayed into Iranian waters. There have been fears of Tehran staging a show trial.
Some of the kidnapped sailors. Click enlarge for bigger picture
But Dr Larijani has stressed that his priority is to resolve the dispute by diplomatic means and without putting the captives on trial.
There was further optimism when Iran's firebrand president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cancelled a press conference at which he was due to speak on the fate of the captives.
The decision to postpone the media briefing gives a breathing space for the diplomatic moves.
Britain's former ambassador to Iran, Sir Richard Dalton, said he was cautiously optimistic following Dr Larijani's comments. He said: "It looks as though both sides are looking for a way to solve the crisis and to do so in the not-too-distant future."
Arthur also met former Brookside actress Claire Sweeney at the event
The UK insists the captives were taken from Iraqi, not Iranian, waters. Dr Larijani has suggested that he wants Britain to admit to its "mistake".
Britain may hold talks about how to avoid future clashes in the disputed waters between Iran and Iraq in which the 14 men and Leading Seaman Faye Turney were captured as they searched for smugglers.
dailymail.co.uk
