Iran wants goodwill gesture from UK
Iran has called on Britain to respond to its release of 15 UK sailors and marines with a goodwill gesture, Iran's ambassador to Britain said on Saturday.
London: Iran has called on Britain to respond to its release of 15 UK sailors and marines with a goodwill gesture, Iran's ambassador to Britain said on Saturday.
Rasoul Movahedian implied that Tehran wants Britain's help in releasing five Iranians being held in Iraq and on relaxing international fears about its controversial nuclear programme.
He said, "We played our part and we showed our good will, now it is up to the British government to proceed in a positive way."
Movahedian denied that the freeing of the Navy personnel after 13 days in captivity was linked to the case of the Iranians being detained in Iraq or the release on Monday of an Iranian diplomat kidnapped at gunpoint in Iraq in February.
But he added: "If they (the British) want to be helpful and use their influence we will welcome that. We will welcome in general any steps that could defuse tensions in the region."
Movahedian said: "We believe it is the right time for the British government to affirm its willingness to establish sensible lines of communication with Iran."
He said it was a "mutual task" shared by world powers to "glean the fruits" of Iran's decision to release the sailors.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has insisted that there were no "side deals" in securing the freedom of the sailors and marines but said that new channels of communication had opened up between Britain and Iran in the efforts to get them released.
