BRITAIN:The 15 naval personnel freed by Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad celebrated their "dream come true" last night as they were reunited with their families at Royal Marines Base Chivenor in Devon.
However, it fell to prime minister Tony Blair to contrast the rejoicing at this homecoming with "the sober and ugly reality" of the deaths of four more British soldiers in Basra yesterday.
While declaring Britain ready to "pursue the lines of communication" opened up with the Iranian regime, Mr Blair accused "at least" elements of it of backing, financing and arming terrorism in Iraq.
The 15 released sailors and marines were kitted out in fresh uniforms and given champagne aboard their flight from Tehran to Heathrow, where the aircraft touched down about midday to the sound of applause from their fellow passengers.
Following an emotional reunion with friends and families they issued a joint statement describing their return to the UK as a "dream come true" and the welcome they enjoyed yesterday as one they would never forget.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street as the freed personnel landed, Mr Blair said he was glad they had been returned home "safe and unharmed".
Defending his government's handling of the 13-day crisis, Mr Blair said they had pursued a "dual-track strategy" - being open to bilateral dialogue with the Iranian regime, while at the same time mobilising international pressure through the United Nations and the EU, the US and allies in the region.
He insisted the detainees had been released "without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature whatever".
Mr Blair said "it would be utterly naive" for anyone to believe the navy personnel would have been released without both elements of that dual-track strategy being present. "New and interesting lines of communication" had been opened up with the Iranian regime, said Mr Blair, which were "sensible" to pursue. He also said Iran's legitimate concerns about events in the region could be addressed.
At the same time, however, Mr Blair said the international community must "remain absolutely steadfast" in dealing with Iran on other issues - while suggesting its nuclear ambitions would be thwarted and urging the country to cease efforts to "subvert" democracy in Iraq.
Speaking after four soldiers were killed when their armoured personnel carrier was hit by a roadside bomb, Mr Blair said: "Just as we rejoice at the return of our 15 personnel, so today we also grieve and mourn for the loss of our soldiers in Basra who were killed as a result of a terrorist act.
"On the one hand we are glad that our service personnel returned safe and unharmed from their captivity but on the other we return to the sober and ugly reality of what is happening through terrorism in Iraq."
The prime minister continued: "Now it's far too early to say that the particular terrorist act that killed our forces was an act committed by terrorists who were backed by any elements of the Iranian regime, so I make no allegation in respect of that particular incident. But the general picture, as I have said before, is that there are elements - at least - of the Iranian regime that are backing, financing, arming terrorism in Iraq."
Mr Blair said the reality was that there was a continuing attempt by terrorism to stop British and allied forces carrying out their task mandated by the UN.
"At the same time as we are open to bilateral dialogue and to pursue the lines of communication that have been opened up in the last two weeks," Mr Blair continued. "We have to hold absolutely firm in relation to support from any aspect of the Iranian regime for terrorism."