'No Need To Try Troops'

President Ahmadinejad

'No Need To Try Troops'

Hopes for a peaceful end to the British military captive crisis have been raised by Iran's admission that it saw no need to put the troops it has seized on trial.

Iran's chief international negotiator, Ali Larijani, said Tehran's priority "is to solve the problem through proper diplomatic channels."

"We are not interested in letting this issue get further complicated," he told Channel 4.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman responded: "There remain some differences between us, but we can confirm we share his preference for early bilateral discussions to find a diplomatic solution to this problem.

"We will be following this up with the Iranian authorities given our shared desire to make early progress."

A press conference by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad scheduled to take place later today is likely to be crucial to the outcome.

Shots of the captives

The statements came after Iran broadcast more images of the 15 British military personnel it is holding, claiming they had all confessed to illegally entering its waters.

The fresh footage shows the group smiling and talking on camera, although it is not known whether they were coerced into appearing. No audio was immediately available on the broadcast.

The Government dismissed the appearance.

"These stage-managed TV appearances are not going to affect our position," Downing Street said.

"We have strong international support and whatever happens next is up to Iran."

The Britons were captured shortly after conducting a routine early morning anti-smuggling check on a merchant vessel on March 23.

The UK Government insists the sailors and Royal Marines were in Iraqi waters when Iranian gunboats seized them.

FROM sky.news.com