Britain:Relief swept over Downing Street, through Whitehall and across Britain yesterday as Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the release of the 15 British naval personnel captured in the Gulf.
British prime minister Tony Blair made no claims about the resolution of the dispute, which some had feared might overshadow his remaining days in office. It came less than 24 hours after Downing Street's announcement late on Tuesday night that contact had been established with the influential head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Maintaining the measured tone that had marked his approach throughout, Mr Blair said Britain had been "firm but calm, not negotiating, but not confronting either", while proclaiming the news "a profound relief" both for the detainees and their families "who have endured such distress and anxiety".
The surprise end to the 13-day crisis finally came more than an hour into a news conference marking the Persian new year, during which Mr Ahmadinejad strongly attacked British and American policy in Iraq and the Middle East, while repeating his insistence that the British crew of sailors and marines were captured in Iranian waters.
However, after awarding medals to the Iranian commanders responsible for their capture, the president declared: "We have every right to put these people on trial. But I want to give them as a present to the British people, to say they are all free."
Announcing their "pardon" to mark the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, and the upcoming Easter holiday, Mr Ahmadinejad continued the theatre by urging Mr Blair "not to put these 15 personnel on trial" following their alleged "confession" to having illegally entered Iranian territorial waters.
The British government has always maintained the crew was arrested in Iraqi waters, operating under a United Nations mandate, and their "confessions" were extracted under duress.
However, there was no hint of it on the television images beamed across the globe, showing the Iranian president smiling, talking and shaking hands with members of the crew at the presidential palace in Tehran. "How are you?" he joked with one. "So you came on a mandatory vacation?"
One unidentified crew member said: "I'd like to say myself and my whole team are very grateful for your forgiveness. I'd like to thank yourself and the Iranian people . . . Thank you very much, Sir." Mr Ahmadinejad replied: "You are welcome."
As the crew members prepared to fly home, relatives and friends toasted in celebration. Sandra, mother of Royal Marine Adam Sperry (22), from Aylestone, Leicester, said: "I never expected this, this afternoon. And I won't believe it until he's in my arms and I've put my arms around him. But it is absolutely fantastic."
And while joining in the celebration, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats signalled an inevitable political inquiry to follow.
Tory leader David Cameron said lessons would have to be learned for the future: "It is very welcome news that our servicemen and women are going to be coming home . . . Of course there will be lessons to learn for the future - but I think today we should just welcome the fact they're coming home." Standing with foreign secretary Margaret Beckett in Downing Street, Mr Blair said: "I'm glad that our 15 service personnel have been released . . . Throughout, we have taken a measured approach - firm but calm, not negotiating, but not confronting either."
Mr Blair thanked European allies and allies on the UN Security Council for their support, as well as officials in the British foreign office and ministry of defence, before continuing: "To the Iranian people I would simply say this: we bear you no ill will.
"On the contrary, we respect Iran as an ancient civilisation, as a nation with a proud and dignified history. The disagreements that we have with your government, we wish to resolve peacefully, through dialogue. I hope, as I have always hoped, that in the future we are about to do so."