Downing Street Says

Asked for any update from Tehran and the kidnapped personnel, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister spoke very carefully yesterday, (and the PMOS hoped that people understood why the Prime Minister was being very careful when he intervened, and stressed that he had to be very careful about what he said). The main thing about what the Prime Minister said that had to be underlined was that we were utterly confident that the personnel who had been detained were in Iraqi waters. We also would underline the call for their immediate release and noted with gratitude that that had been backed by the international community, including the EU. The PMOS said that he hoped people would understand why we would be restrained in what we said.

Asked why we were so "utterly confident", the PMOS said that he could not comment, except to say that we were. We had examined again and again the evidence, and that was the case.

Asked if we had received any indication as to where the people were being detained, and did they have any consular access, the PMOS said that he was not going to give a running commentary. The PMOS added that there were diplomatic discussions going on all the time, and people should be aware that the Foreign Secretary had spoken to the Iranian Foreign Minister and we remained in constant contact.

Asked if the Prime Minister believed that the seizure was linked to the wider diplomatic picture over nuclear issues, the PMOS replied that this was a matter on its own. It should therefore be treated on its own, and that was how we were approaching it.

Put that there were newspaper reports that the seizure was pre-planned by Iran, the PMOS said again that he was not going to give a commentary on either what people thought about it all or how it came about. It was a matter that should be dealt with on its own merits. These personnel were in Iraqi waters, and therefore, they should be released.

Asked at what stage would the Prime Minister begin to "ratchet" up British pressure, and what would happen if they were not released soon, the PMOS said that we had to recognise that the pressure was not just coming from this country, but rather, it was coming from the international community as well. That was very important. It was also very important that our EU partners were solid in their support of our case. We had to deal with this day by day.

Asked if the Prime Minister would get personally involved at this stage, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister was constantly being updated on this, but the PMOS said again that he hoped people would understand if we did not give an hour by hour commentary.

Asked if it was right that the British Government’s anger was sent in a way that the Foreign Secretary did not bother to come down from her constituency to meet with the Iranian Ambassador on Friday, the PMOS replied that what was important was that she had spoken to her opposite number. People were fully aware of our position.

Asked if we had received any GPS co-ordinates from the Iranians, the PMOS said again that there was no doubt in our minds at all that they were in Iraqi waters.

Asked if there were any plans for a statement to Parliament, the PMOS replied that what was important was that we treated this in a way which made sure that the Iranian Government was fully aware of our position, but that we did not do so in a way which was detrimental to those involved.

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» Monday, March 26, 2007

Iran

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