British-Iranian Tensions Ease

Almost 2 weeks after the capture of 15 British sailors by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, tensions between the two countries appear to be lessening. Still, while British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for “peaceful and calm negotiation”, he has also warned that if a quick diplomatic solution is not forthcoming, Britain would “take an increasingly tougher position”.

In response to a suggestion by Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani of bilateral talks, Blair said that “the door is open” to a diplomatic solution. Larijani also told a British news service that the Iranian government had decided that “there is no need for any trial” – a reversal of earlier statements by Iran expressing an intention to try the British sailors for espionage.

Given the already-tense situation between the West and Iran – with the U.S. pushing for more severe treatment over the Iranian nuclear programs and allegations by Washington that the Iranian government is supporting the insurgency in Iraq – it appears both British and Iranian leaders are looking to defuse a potentially dangerous situation.

Across the Atlantic, however, the Bush administration has not ruled out the possibility of military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. While only time will tell whether American or Israeli forces will risk an attack on Iran, at least for the short term peace seems likely to prevail.