The next 48 hours will be crucial to securing the release of the 15 British sailors and Marines held by Iran, Tony Blair said yesterday.

But Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, cautioned against expecting “a swift resolution” to the crisis, which enters its thirteenth day today. And British officials said that the state of dialogue between London and Tehran was “confused”.

Despite hopes that the dispute was moving in the right direction, Britain has yet to receive a formal reply to its diplomatic note sent to the Iranians last week. While the Government is ready to begin substantive talks and, if necessary, send a delegation to Iran, no such request has yet been made by Tehran.

Downing Street said last night: “There have been further contacts between the United Kingdom and Iran . . . both sides share a desire for an early resolution”.

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If Ahmadinejad remains silent, it could help officials reach a deal without a fresh burst of inflammatory rhetoric

Richard Beeston

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The surprise release of an Iranian diplomat held for two months in Iraq fuelled suggestions that a possible deal was slowly being pieced together. British, US and Iraqi officials would not say if the release of Jalal Sharafi, apparently held by Iraqi Intelligence since February 4, was linked to the possible release of the Britons.

President Bush insisted that there would be “no quid pro quos” when it came to those being held, and that the US would not release five Iranians it is holding in Iraq in return for the Britons.

But Parviz Davoudi, the Iranian Vice-President, underlined the improved mood music between the sides. He called for guarantees that there would be no future “violation” of Iraqi waters, but made no mention of Britain making an apology or of the 15 standing trial in Iran. He believed that the crisis was heading in the right direction and that “God willing, it will be resolved soon”.

Tehran released new images of some of the service personnel yesterday. Faye Turney, who had appeared in previous footage wearing a headscarf, appeared uncovered with her feet bare. It is the first time that the sailors and Marines, who are seen wearing tracksuits, have been seen out of uniform. The pictures were regarded by observers as Iran’s attempt to deescalate the problem by showing humane treatment and a respect for the Britons’ own culture and customs.

Mr Blair, visiting Glasgow yesterday, said: “The next 48 hours will be fairly critical.”

He did not elaborate, but Mrs Beckett gave a warning against expecting a swift resolution. Lord Triesman, the Foreign Office Minister handling negotiations with the Iranians, was expected to hold his eighth meeting yesterday with Iran’s Ambassador to London. Similar discussions are under way in Tehran between Geoffrey Adams, the British Ambassador, and Iranian officials.

Mr Blair, who was at Holy-rood for the local election campaign, said that Britain was “not looking for confrontation”. But he also warned Tehran that there were “two tracks” to Britain’s policy.

“One is to make sure that Iran understands that the pressure is there available to us if this thing has to be hard and tough and long,” Mr Blair said.

British officials emphasised yesterday that the Prime Minister was not referring to a possible military option. Rather, he was alluding to the pressure that Britain could exert on Iran through third parties, such as allies in the EU, the UN and the Arab world.

The EU is Iran’s largest trading partner and several European leaders have added their voices to demands that the British captives be released.

President Ahmadinejad of Iran had been expected to give a press conference yesterday about the dispute, but postponed it until today. He has in the past spoken out aggressively against Britain.

There were fears in Whitehall last night that he could jeopardise the delicate progress made so far this week.

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