Iran: Sailors crisis resolvable
2007-04-02 23:26
London - Iran's top security official said on Monday that there was "no need" for a trial in the case of 15 captured British naval personnel, saying Tehran wanted to resolve the situation diplomatically.
Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's supreme national security council, described the stand-off as "quite resolvable" in an interview with Britain's Channel Four television.
"Definitely our priority is to solve the problem through proper diplomatic channels. We are not interested in having this issue get further complicated," he said.
"We definitely believe that this issue can be resolved. And there is no need for any trial."
He also claimed that the European Union had "started to condemn Iran without knowing the facts" over the detention of the group last month.
He accused the EU of using "the language of force" by expressing "unconditional support" for Britain last week and threating "appropriate measures" unless the captives were released quickly.
- AFP