Release of British hostages 'a gift' from Iran » Central Government » 24dash.com

The British Service personnel captured by the Iranians were tonight preparing to fly home after their 13-day ordeal was suddenly and dramatically brought to a close.

Iran's hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unexpectedly used a news conference in Tehran to theatrically announce that he was pardoning the 15 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines as "a gift to the British people".

The news was greeted with relief and jubilation by the families of the detainees, while Tony Blair said he was "glad" that they were being released.

In a brief, carefully-worded statement outside the door of No 10, the Prime Minister insisted that there had not been any negotiation with the Iranians.

"Throughout, we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting either," he said.

He thanked Britain's allies in the European Union, the United Nations Security Council and in the region for their support and help in resolving the crisis, and said he hoped future differences could be resolved through peaceful dialogue.

"I hope, as I have always hoped, that in future we are able to do so," he said, adding there was "no ill will" towards Iran.

Following the press conference in Tehran, Iranian television broadcast pictures of Mr Ahmadinejad shaking hands with some of the detainees, before they were handed over to diplomats at the British Embassy.

One of the men, dressed in a suit and open-necked shirt, was heard thanking the President and the Iranian people, while another said: "Your people have been very kind to us and I appreciate that very much."

It was not clear what exactly prompted the Iranians to release the group now.

It followed the announcement last night by Downing Street that contact had been established with the influential head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, who is close to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Despite regular meetings involving officials and diplomats in London and Tehran, the Government had previously struggled to establish an effective channel of communication with the Iranians.

While the conversation - understood to have been with Mr Blair's foreign policy adviser Sir Nigel Sheinwald - was seen as a positive sign, officials were nevertheless taken by surprise by the speed of today's announcement.

Mr Ahmadinejad said at his press conference that Britain had sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry pledging that it would not enter Iranian waters again.

The Foreign Office tonight would not discuss details of the diplomatic note it delivered over the weekend, although a spokesman stressed the Government had maintained that the personnel were in Iraqi waters when they were seized.

"We have been quite specific where our boats were," the spokesman said.

Mr Ahmadinejad built up to his big announcement with a lengthy denunciation of Britain - including its role in Iraq. Lebanon and even a coup which overthrew Iranian prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953.

He then ostentatiously awarded a medal to the captain of the patrol boats which captured the British party, before berating Britain for sending the mother of a small child - Leading Seaman Faye Turney - as part of the crew.

"Why is there no respect for motherhood, affection?" he demanded.

It was then that he stunned watchers, springing his surprise that the Service personnel were to be pardoned.

"On the occasion of the birthday of the great Prophet (Mohammed) ... and for the occasion of the passing of Christ (Easter), I say the Islamic Republic government and the Iranian people - with all powers and legal right to put the soldiers on trial - forgave those 15," he said.

"This pardon is a gift to the British people."

Iran's IRNA news agency reported that the personnel would be leaving Tehran for Britain tomorrow on an 8am flight, local time.

The news brought delight to the families after almost two weeks of uncertainty.

April Rawstone, the grandmother of sailor Nathan Summers, said: "I am just so happy today. Thank the Lord everything has turned out well for them."

While there was relief in Whitehall that the stand off was at an end, there was also continued anger at the way the personnel were treated - not least the way they were shown on television "confessing" to trespassing in Iranian waters.

The Government has maintained throughout that they were in Iraqi territorial waters operating under a UN mandate when they were seized on March 23 after completing a routine search of a merchant ship in the northern Gulf.

While the priority for the Government has been to secure the release of the sailors and marines, their return is likely to see renewed questions as to how they came to be captured in the first place.

The issues include whether there should have been greater awareness of the risks that Iran might try to seize US or British personnel for political reasons, whether they should have had close air support available and whether their rules of engagement are sufficiently robust.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "There will be many lessons to be learned from this episode. But for the moment we should welcome this announcement and look forward to the return of the naval personnel.

"Their seizure underlines the difficult and dangerous tasks we ask of our Armed Forces."

Shadow foreign secretary, William Hague, said: "We welcome the news that our Navy personnel will be released. I'm sure their families and whole country are greatly relieved and we look forward to welcoming them home quickly and safely."

Iranian television tonight showed fresh pictures of the sailors and marines being interviewed before their return.

Leading seaman Faye Turney is shown thanking President Ahmadinejad for "letting us go home".

She said she was "just relieved, thankful to go home. Our treatment here has been great. It would be nice to get back and see my family".

Asked what she'd like to say to the Iranian people, she said: "Just thank you for letting us go and apologies for our actions, but many thanks for having it in your hearts to let us go free."

She added: "It was fantastic, we were treated well, we weren't harmed in any way."

And in a message to the Iranians, she said: "Thanks for letting us go home."

Lieutenant Felix Carman said that they had not intended any harm to the Iranian people.

He said: "Since we've been captured all of our needs have been catered for, we've been given food and bedding. I would just like to thank, on behalf of my team, the Iranian people for looking after us so well.

"I can understand why you were insulted by our apparent intrusion into your waters. I would like to say that no harm was meant to Iranian people, or its territories, whatsoever."

The Foreign Office confirmed tonight that the British ambassador in Iran, Geoffrey Adams, had met the sailors and Marines.

However they have not yet been released to the British embassy.

"They are still with the Iranians," the spokesman said.

Copyright Press Association 2007.

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