Ali Larijani,  Iran,  Iraq,  Iraq War,  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,  United Kingdom

Iran Watch: Iran-UK Hostage Crisis Day 12

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AP: Britain calls for direct talks with Iran

Britain called for direct talks with Iran over 15 captive Britons Tuesday after speaking for the first time with the chief Iranian negotiator. The announcement followed the sudden release of an Iranian diplomat in Iraq that raised new hope in resolving the standoff.

In a statement late Tuesday, Prime Minister Blair’s Downing Street office said “both sides share a desire for an early resolution to this issue through direct talks.”

Hours after Foreign Secretary Margaret cautioned against expecting a swift resolution to the crisis, Downing Street struck an upbeat note, announcing there had been “further contacts” between the two countries, including with chief negotiator Ali Larijani.

“The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means. The UK has proposed direct bilateral discussions and awaits an Iranian response on when these can begin,” Blair’s office said.

Earlier, Iranian diplomat Jalal Sharafi arrived in Tehran, hours after he was freed by his captors in Iraq, officials said. He was seized Feb. 4 by uniformed gunmen in Karradah, a Shiite-controlled district of Baghdad.

His release also suggests the standoff over the captive Britons may end with a de facto prisoner swap — something both Tehran and London have publicly discounted.

Iran alleged the diplomat had been abducted by an Iraqi military unit commanded by U.S. forces — a charge repeated by several Iraqi Shiite lawmakers. U.S. authorities denied any role in his disappearance.

Has the sun finally set on the British Empire with a feckless Tony Blair? Flap cannot imagine a “COLD WAR” prisoner abduction/trade ever being so mishandled by Maggie Thatcher. And the Brits then were dealing with the Soviets!

If Britain is going to negotiate with these terrorists then at least do it quickly and out of sight so your own people can’t see how WEAK you really are.

Shameful…….

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This picture, apparently a still taken from a video, showed six sailors sitting in blue and red tracksuits on a carpet in a room with what appears to be a little bowl of nuts standing in the middle of the group.

Previous:

Iran Watch: Iranian TV Shows New Video of Captured British Sailors

Iran Watch: Iran Protesters Target British Embassy

Iran Watch: Feckless Brits Seek Deal With Iran

Iran Watch: British Sailors May Be Tried By Iran

Iran Watch: Iran Releases Video and Letter of Captured British Hostages

Iran Watch: Britain Seeks Iran Condemnation from the United Nations

Iran Watch: Britain Must FIRST Admit “MISTAKE”

Iran Watch: Iran Parades Brit Hostages on TV

Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran

Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?

Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors

Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?

Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran

Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance

Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters

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