新闻背景：伊朗总统内贾德在德黑兰当地时间4日下午举行的一次新闻发布会上宣布释放被扣英国海军人员，英国首相布莱尔听到伊朗宣布释放被扣海军人员时表示“高兴”。
British
Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed Wednesday the release of 15 detainees by
Iran, saying London wanted to peacefully resolve disputes with Tehran. The
British navy crew was seized by Iranian forces nearly two weeks ago in
what Tehran says were Iranian territorial waters in the Gulf. VOA's Sonja
Pace reports from London.
"A gift to the British people," was how President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
described the decision to free the 15 sailors and marines.
Mr. Ahmadinejad said the naval crew was pardoned. He also said he was
"saddened" by what he called Britain's violation of Iranian waters.
After his news conference, Mr. Ahmadinejad went directly to a meeting
with the sailors and marines, who are expected to leave Tehran on
Thursday.
In London, Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the
decision.
"I'm glad that our 15 service personnel have been released," he said.
"Throughout, we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not
negotiating, but not confronting either."
Britain has all along insisted the sailors were in Iraqi, not Iranian,
waters when they were captured. In his brief statement to reporters, Mr.
Blair did not apologize nor did he directly thank the Iranian president or
government for the decision, but he did address himself to the Iranian
people.
"We bear you no ill will. On the contrary, we respect Iran as an
ancient civilization, as a nation with a proud and dignified history and
the disagreements we have with your government we wish to resolve
peacefully through dialogue," said Mr. Blair. "I hope, as I have always
hoped, that in the future, we are able to do so."
Even though intensive discussions were known to be taking place between
London and Tehran, President Ahmadinejad's sudden announcement came as a
surprise.
He revealed the decision at a lengthy news conference in Tehran, during
which he made numerous references to Islamic religious verses and also
chastised the West, particularly Britain and the United States for its
actions and policies.
At one point, he praised the Revolutionary Guard crew responsible for
the capture of the British sailors nearly two weeks ago. He also gave a
medal to the Guard commander.
In Washington, a U.S. State Department spokesman also welcomed the
Iranian decision to release the 15 sailors and marines. | 
