Iran Focus: London, Apr. 05 – The following is the text of a statement on Wednesday by British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the release of 15 British marines and sailors who had been arrested by Iranian forces nearly two weeks ago:
Statement by Blair on sailors’ release from Iran
U.S. lets Red Cross see seized Iranians
Washington Post: The U.S. military has allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit five Iranian officials who were detained in Iraq nearly three months ago on suspicion of plotting against American and Iraqi forces.
Tehran likely to pay long-term price
Washington Post: British officials expected an angry rant when they heard that Iran’s hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was going to give a news conference yesterday about the 15 British sailors and marines detained two weeks ago in the Persian Gulf.
Freed British Navy crew on way home
Press Association: The 15, whose release from nearly two weeks in Iranian captivity was announced by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday, had arrived at the airport in a convoy of cars that drove directly to the presidential VIP section of the airport.
Britain pledges not to repeat Iran intrusion: Ahmadinejad
AFP: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday the British government had promised not to repeat the incident which saw 15 of its sailors seized for entering Iranian waters.
Bush hails release of Britons
AFP: President George W. Bush on Wednesday welcomed the release by Iran of 15 British naval personnel, captured almost two weeks ago in the Gulf.
Ahmadinejad meets British sailors as they are released
AFP: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday met the 15 British sailors as they were released at the presidential compound, wishing them success for the future, state television pictures showed.
Iran to hand sailors to embassy Thursday-report
Reuters: An adviser to Iran’s president said the 15 British sailors and marines who had been detained in Iran would be handed over to the British embassy on Thursday and would then leave, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported.
Iran agrees to probe disappearance of ex-FBI agent, U.S. says
Bloomberg: Iran said today it will investigate the disappearance of a former FBI agent, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
Syria: We helped in Iran-Britain dispute
AP: Syria played a key role in resolving the standoff over the 15 British sailors and marines held by Iran, two government officials said Wednesday.
