Fifteen British sailors and marines detained by Iran for almost two weeks were hailed Saturday for their conduct in captivity, but Tehran called on London to respond to the release with a goodwill gesture of its own.
The detainees "behaved both honourably and rationally" in the face of "grotesque treatment", The Guardian newpaper said as it emerged that Pope Benedict XVI wrote to Iran's spiritural leader to urge the group's release. The Vatican confirmed Saturday that the pope wrote to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hours before the group's release , AFP reported.
According to The Guardian, the pontiff urged the ayatollah to do all he could to ensure their return home for Easter in what would be taken as a "significant religious gesture of goodwill from the Iranian people".
Meanwhile, Tehran's ambassador to London said in an interview published Saturday that Britain should respond in kind to his country's actions. Rasoul Movahedian told the Financial Times that Tehran wanted London's help in releasing five Iranians held in Iraq by American forces and on easing international fears about its controversial nuclear programme. "We played our part and we showed our good will," he told the business daily. "Now it is up to the British government to proceed in a positive way."
Movahedian said Iran wanted to statr a new dialogue. "If they (the British) want to be helpful and use their influence we will welcome that. We will welcome in general any steps that could defuse tensions in the region," he added.
