Blair Says New Dialogue Possible with Iran Following Sailors' Release

VOA

British Prime Minister Tony Blair sees the possibility of forging a different relationship with Iran, now that his country's sailors and marines have been released unharmed. And even before the British naval crew landed in London the European Union announced that the EU and Iran have begun discussing a possible reopening of discussions about Iran's controversial nuclear program.

Experts in Washington are cautious, however; some see little hope for an easy resolution of the larger dispute. VOA's Jim Fry reports:

Back in their British military uniforms, the naval crew held in Iran for the past two weeks is back on home turf, safe and sound. The 15 sailors and marines were freed after what British Prime Minister Tony Blair describes as "a bilateral dialogue."

"It is correct that over the past couple of weeks there have been new and interesting lines of communications opened up with the Iranian regime, and it's sensible for us to continue to pursue those," he said.

Blair says the dialogue -- while not a negotiation -- created the possibility for a different relationship with Iran ...even as the world's attention turns, once again, to Iran's nuclear enrichment program. .....