TEHRAN, April 3 (RIA Novosti) - Iranian and British government officials have begun negotiating the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel detained in the Persian Gulf last month for allegedly trespassing into Iranian waters, Iran's chief international negotiator said Tuesday.
Ali Larijani said a diplomatic solution to the standoff could be reached if the negotiations follow a logical path.
Earlier, Tehran signaled that the eight Royal Navy sailors and seven marines who had been detained in the Gulf March 23 might be put on trial for their alleged intrusion into Iranian waters. It claimed that all the detainees had confessed to trespassing, an accusation the U.K. government has repeatedly denied.
Until now, the British government has refused to negotiate with the Iranians on the issue, insisting that all the detainees be released unconditionally.
