LONDON, 2 April 2007 — Britain is in “direct bilateral communication” with Iran as it tries to win the release of 15 detained sailors and Marines, Defense Secretary Des Browne said yesterday.
“We are anxious that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible and that it be resolved by diplomatic means and we are bending every single effort to that,” Browne told BBC television.
“It’s not my intention to go through the details of that blow by blow, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to do that, but we are in direct bilateral communication with the Iranians,” he said.
Iranian protesters had earlier hurled stones and firecrackers at the British Embassy in Tehran in a worsening crisis over 15 British naval personnel captured on March 23.
No one was hurt by the small explosive devices, which went off with loud bangs and sent clouds of smoke rising from inside the compound. About 100 demonstrators chanted: “British, British, death to you, death to you.” Demonstrators, who scuffled with police, included members of the Basij, a hard-line religious militia. Iran’s capture of the sailors and Marines has drawn international criticism but Tehran has ignored calls to release the 14 men and one woman, saying Britain must admit they illegally entered Iranian waters. London insists they were in Iraqi territory when seized.
Iran and Britain have exchanged diplomatic notes on the incident in the last few days, but their content is unknown.
Britain’s Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported that Britain would be prepared to give Iran guarantees that the Royal Navy would not knowingly enter Iranian waters without permission.
But Britain would not apologize or say its boats entered Iran’s waters, the report said.
It said there were plans to send a Royal Navy captain or commodore to Tehran, as a special envoy of the government, to deliver the assurance.
The British Foreign Office declined to comment on the report.
US President George W. Bush on Saturday called on Iran to release the 15 at once. “The Iranians must give back the hostages. They’re innocent,” he said. “The Iranians took these people out of Iraqi waters. It’s inexcusable behavior.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, current holder of the European Union presidency, also demanded the sailors’ release.
