WORLD / Middle East
Iran to release 15 British sailors
(AP)
Updated: 2007-04-05 08:59
Video grab shows Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking to Britons
who had been detained in Iran at a ceremony to mark their release, April
4, 2007. The 15 British naval personnel will leave the country from
Tehran airport on Thursday, an official Iranian source said. [Reuters]
The British crew was seized March 23 as it searched for smugglers. Iran
broadcast footage of Turney and some other crew members "confessing" they
had entered Iranian waters. An infuriated Britain froze most bilateral
contacts, prompting Tehran to roll back on a pledge to free Turney.
Special coverage:
British Sailors Detained
Related readings:
Britain, Iran hold high-level talks in sailor row Iranian diplomat seized
in Iraq released
Iranian TV airs new video of detained sailors
Iran sees positive signs in UK stance
All UK captives say entered illegally
UK denounces video of seized sailors
Protest in Iran targets British Embassy
Britain studying Iran standoff options
Bush to Iran: 'Give back the hostages'
Iran airs second British's apology UN urges resolution of Iran seizure
UK turns up heat on Iran over sailors
Iran TV shows footage of UK sailors
Brit presses Iran; woman may be freed
Blair warns Iran standoff could escalate
Iran: Sailors being treated humanely
Wednesday's announcement led some analysts to conclude that Iran's
supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, decided the crisis had gone on
long enough at a time when Tehran faces mounting pressure over its
nuclear program. A day after the British were seized, the U.N. Security
Council imposed new sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt uranium
enrichment.
During Ahmadinejad's news conference, the hardline president said Britain
had sent a letter to the Iranian Foreign Ministry pledging that entering
Iranian waters "will not happen again." Tehran had demanded an apology
for the alleged entry into its waters.
Britain's Foreign Office would not give details about the letter but said
its position was clear that the detained crew had been in Iraqi waters.
Regardless of the territorial issue, the standoff showed that Tehran has
ways to push back after the U.S. and Britain beefed up their military
presence in the Persian Gulf this year.
The U.S. has accused Iran of sending weapons to Shiite militias in Iraq.
That led to speculation that the Iranians seized the Britons in
retaliation for the detention of five Iranians by U.S. forces in the
northern Iraqi city of Irbil in January. Iran denied any connection.
Shortly before the announcement, Iranian state media reported that an
Iranian envoy would be allowed to meet the five Iranians. A U.S. military
spokesman in Baghdad said American authorities were considering the
request, although an international Red Cross team, including one Iranian,
had visited the prisoners.
Another Iranian diplomat, separately seized two months ago by uniformed
gunmen in Iraq, was released and returned Tuesday to Tehran. Iran accused
the Americans of abducting him, a charge the U.S. denied.
Before announcing the Britons would be freed, Ahmadinejad told reporters
that Iran will never accept trespassing in its territory.
"On behalf of the great Iranian people," he said, "I want to thank the
Iranian coast guard who courageously defended and captured those who
violated their territorial waters."
1 2
Top World News
� Abe meets Bush, renews sympathy for 'comfort women'
� Bombers strike at Iraqi army, civilians
� Putin firm in final union address
� US House OKs Iraq troop pullout bill
� Japanese PM to meet Bush in summit
Today's Top News
� China to act on pollution, warming gases
� Yang a popular choice as FM
� Hu, Lien stress cross-Straits peace
� US captures senior Al-Qaida operative
� Yang Jiechi named new FM, replacing Li Zhaoxing
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Learn Mandarin online, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment