Iran seeks bilateral resolution to crisis (ft.com)

By Daniel Dombey in London and Fidelius Schmid in Bremen

Published: March 30 2007 15:08

Iran said on Friday it was seeking a diplomatic resolution of the dispute over its detention of 15 British sailors and marines, but the UK said Tehran had not made any concessions.

“The two governments have been closely examining and discussing the case,” the Iranian embassy in London said in a statement. ”This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels,” it added, censuring Britain for taking the issue to the United Nations Security Council.

In a press statement issued on Thursday night that fell well short of the UK’s initial draft, the Security Council called for British consular access to the detainees, and requested “an early resolution of this problem, including the release of the 15 United Kingdom personnel”. Britain had wanted the Security Council to call for the detainees’ immediate release.

On Friday, the Iranian embassy also released the text of a letter delivered to Britain the previous day which denounced what it said was Britain’s “illegal act in violating Iranian waters” and called on the UK to “guarantee to avoid the recurrence of such acts”.

While the UK insists that the personnel were in Iraqi waters, and has used GPS data to support its claim, Tehran says the sailors and marines were 0.5 km within Iranian territorial waters.

“There is nothing in the letter to suggest that the Iranians are looking for a way out,” said Margaret Beckett, UK foreign secretary. She also said that Iran had acted “completely contrary to normal international convention” in using the detainees “for blatant propaganda.”

Iran also released what it said was a third letter by Leading Seaman Faye Turney, the only woman among the 15 captives, which called on the UK to leave Iraq. It also showed footage of another detainee, Nathan Thomas Summers, who apologised for crossing into Iranian waters “without permission”.

Meeting in Bremen, Germany, European Union foreign ministers on Friday called for Iran to release the 15 UK sailors and marines held captive, but expressed caution about following London in suspending normal business with Iran.

“I think we have to be careful,” said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU external relations commissioner. “We are in a very delicate moment.”

The ministers are planning to issue a formal declaration of support on Friday night.