DAR AL HARB - U.K.: A "DIFFERENT PHASE" IF DIPLOMACY FAILS WHEN IT COMES TO IRAN

Tony Blair says clash with Iran may move to 'different phase' if diplomacy fails

Britain hopes that diplomacy will win the release of 15 sailors and marines detained by Iran but is prepared to move to a "different phase" if negotiations fail, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday.

Britain has said the Royal Navy crew were seized Friday just after they completed a search of a civilian vessel in the Iraqi part of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, where the border with Iran is disputed.

"I hope we manage to get them (the Iranian government) to realize they have to release them," Blair said in an interview with GMTV. "If not, then this will move into a different phase."

Asked what that meant, Blair said: "Well, we will just have to see, but what they should understand is that we cannot have a situation where our servicemen and women are seized when actually they are in Iraqi waters under a U.N. mandate, patrolling perfectly rightly and in accordance with that mandate, and then effectively captured and taken to Iran."

Blair's official spokesman said later the prime minister was not hinting either at the possible expulsion of Iranian diplomats or military action. But Blair's office warned officials may be forced to make public evidence proving the Britons were seized in Iraqi - not Iranian - waters, if there is no swift release of the sailors.

"We want to resolve this quickly without having a public confrontation with them, but as the prime minister said we want to resolve it. If we cannot resolve it quickly, then maybe we have to be more explicit," said the spokesman, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Tony Blair says clash with Iran may move to 'different phase' if diplomacy fails