London (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Iran has apparently offered to let UK officials visit the 15 Royal Navy personnel who were captured in the Gulf and has renewed assurances on the release of Faye Turney, the only female member of the group. According to the official agency Irna, the decision was made “for humanitarian reasons”.

These are the latest developments in the complex situation, which come just one day after Iranian television broadcast shocking images of the marines.  The video provoked immediate protests from Britain, Defence Secretary Des Browne, described the “parade” as “unacceptable”.

London is attempting to increase diplomatic and political pressure on Tehran and seems to be aiming for United Nations Security Council intervention on the issue, following Russia and China’s bland declarations. 

The line being taken is to show that the capture was illegal, while at the same time avoid that the captured servicemen become hostages, should negotiations become heated.  As a result it has been clarified that yesterday’s decision to “freeze” relations between the two countries refers to a formal block of relations between states.  At the same, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Charles Style, has produced data which he said proves the boarding party was 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters, data which has been confirmed by Baghdad.   

But Teheran is immovable: it says it wants the English to admit that the captured sailors were inside Iranian territorial waters and Irna maintains that according to its GPS readings, they were 0.5 miles within the Iranian territory. “Their admission will help resolve the problem”, said Iranian foreign minister Manucher Mottaki, who also stated that Turney will be released but “not today or tomorrow”, as had been previously declared, rather “as soon as possible”.

In her declaration to Iranian television, - which, according to a former RAF pilot speaking to BBC who was put on television by the Iraqis after being shot down in the first Gulf War, was most probably coerced - Faye Turney stated that she was captured in Iranian waters and that she has not been subjected to violence.  “I was treated friendly and hospitable. They are nice people; they explained why we were arrested”. Iranian TV has also shown a letter, in English, reportedly written by Turney to her family. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said: “I am very concerned about these pictures and any indication of pressure or coercion of our personnel who were carrying out a routine operation in accordance with international law and under a United Nations Resolution.”

Highlighting increased international concern over the possible repercussions from this incident, on one hand, there have been unconfirmed reports that the US Navy manoeuvres in the Gulf, in front of the Iranian coast, on the other the rise in oil prices which have reached 65 dollars a barrel, the highest in over six months.