WORLD / Middle East |
Britons leave for London, ending Iran standoff(Reuters)Updated: 2007-04-05 12:39
The peaceful end to the standoff, which began when Tehran seized the 15 in the Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iraq and Iran on March 23, prompted a drop in oil prices from recent highs. U.S. stock futures and the dollar rose in relief. Iranian officials whisked the 15 through the airport building to the British Mediterranean Airways plane, keeping them away from journalists, witnesses said. "The plane has taken off," Iran Radio said. A British diplomat, asking not to be named, said the Britons would travel in the business class section and that no one apart from the 15 and people accompanying them would be allowed in that part of the plane. "The 15 will be accompanied by three or four British embassy staff and there will be no access for the media until the plane reaches Britain," said the diplomat. A 57-year-old Iranian businessman, one of at least two people downgraded to economy class to ensure the business section was only for the Britons, said: "We understood the reason. We are very happy this (standoff) has been concluded." At his news conference, Ahmadinejad said: "Under the influence of the Muslim Prophet, (Iran) forgives these 15 people and gives their freedom to the British people as a gift." In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the release of the 15. "Throughout we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting either," Blair told reporters. "To the Iranian people I would simply say this: we bear you no ill will." The dispute centred on where the Britons were when they were seized. Britain says they were in Iraqi waters on a routine U.N. mission. Tehran says they strayed into its territorial waters.
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