How is the present situation in Iran regarding to the British hostages?

mamour

Iran seeks goodwill over captives

The naval crew have shared their experiences with the media
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 said that Iran wanted help to release five Iranians held by the US in Iraq, and to ease fears over its nuclear programme.

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.

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.

Someone 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.

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."

The ambassador also suggested the resolution of the dispute should be used as an opportunity to open up a dialogue between Iran and the UK.

"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 Iran 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".

Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the US, said the outcome of the dispute meant that "Iran's standing in the Muslim world...will have been raised".

He said the capture of the sailors had resulted in "humiliation" for the UK.

Similarly, former Iranian diplomat Mehdi Varzi said the dispute was used by Tehran "to show the Arab world these British sailors were just normal people and could be taken at will", therefore undermining the image of western military strength in the region.

more on this story ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6534335.stm

Joseph, II

It's over. The 15 hostages are on a plane- headed back to England. No doubt we will be seeing them in a Press Conference, sometime in the next few days.

Afi

They are coming home today.

firefly

they are finally back home .... happy ending. :)

Dreamweaver

the iranians let the hostages free

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