BBC NEWS | UK | UK in 'discreet talks' with Iran

BBC NEWS | UK | UK in 'discreet talks' with Iran

UK in 'discreet talks' with Iran
The government is attempting to "discreetly" talk to the Iranians to secure the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel, Downing Street has said.
Tony Blair's spokesman said that if the talks were unsuccessful, the government may have to become "more explicit".

He said they were "utterly confident" the 15 had been in Iraqi, not Iranian, waters, when they were captured.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett will shorten a visit to Turkey to fly home to help manage the crisis.

The 15 sailors and marines from HMS Cornwall were captured on Friday when they boarded a boat in the Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.

'No doubt'

Iran says the British personnel were trespassing in Iranian waters when they were seized - but the prime minister said the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.

The prime minister's spokesman said the matter was being dealt with "privately" but the Iranians could be "in no doubt that we expect the immediate release of our personnel".


Earlier, Mr Blair warned of a "different phase" if diplomacy failed to secure their release.

His spokesman said he was referring to a "different way" of handling talks, which could involve making public reasons why the UK was certain the group was in Iraqi waters.

He told reporters: "We are utterly confident that we were in Iraqi waters, and not just marginally in Iraqi waters but in Iraqi waters. It's a case of tactics and if and when we have to prove that."

Asked how the government could prove their location, he added: "There is a boat which we inspected," but would not explain further.


HAVE YOUR SAY
The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world
Gary, UK


The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran.

They have been held for five days, but are said to be being treated humanely.

On Tuesday, Defence Secretary Des Browne chaired a meeting of ministers and officials - under the auspices of the government's "civil contingencies committee" known as Cobra - to discuss the situation.

Officials said it was intended to ensure coordination across Whitehall and keep civil servants updated on the latest developments.

Cobra leads responses to national crises and convened in recent years for the 7 July London bombings, the fuel protests and 11 September attack.

It is understood that while still in Turkey, Mrs Beckett spoke to Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to push again for immediate consular access to them.

On Wednesday, she is expected to make a statement to the Commons.

Faye Turney, one of the 15 captured, was interviewed by the BBC last week.

She said: "Sometimes you may be called upon, and when you do you've just got to deal with it and get on with it".

Meanwhile, her family, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, have said it is a "very distressing time" for them.




Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/6500583.stm

Published: 2007/03/27 17:00:30 GMT