Lessons learned: Iran's release of British prisoners

The lessons of 2004 worked again in 2007.

The release of 15 British naval personnel Wednesday, coming after several days of intensified negotiations, was welcomed in Britain as evidence that a "softly, softly" approach could prove effective with Iran – as it did in a similar prisoner crisis three years ago.

"This is vindication for the British diplomats, who came under a lot of criticism," says Ali Ansari, an Iran expert at London's Chatham house think tank. "Diplomacy worked. People should reflect on this: There are diplomatic options when we deal with Iran. It's a very salutary lesson."

After a 13-day standoff, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a press conference in Tehran and praised the Iranian Coast Guard who had "courageously defended" Iran's territorial waters. Then he "pardoned" the prisoners as an Easter gift to Britain.

Some saw it as a lesson with historical precedence. Earlier this week, Hodding Carter III, who was US undersecretary of State during the 1979-81 hostage crisis, said one of the conclusions to be drawn was that "when hostages are taken it's a very good time for governments to shut up."

"You're better off conducting diplomacy behind closed doors," he told BBC radio Monday. "You are far more likely to be able to affect something if you are not out there beating your chest and letting them beat their chest in return."

British diplomats had essentially been trying to do just that in recent days: working quietly to elaborate a formula that will enable both sides to emerge with no loss of face. Despite shrill calls from Americans such as former US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, and from parts of the domestic press to act more robustly against Iran, Britain by and large pursued a diplomatic approach.

After almost two weeks of mutual recrimination, signs first emerged Monday that diplomacy was making headway.

Ali Larijani, Iran's influential national security council chief, said Monday Tehran wanted to resolve the issue diplomatically and did not want drawn-out "complications."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair for his part said Mr. Larijani's comments "seem to offer some prospect," and said the door was open to a diplomatic resolution.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Tuesday evening that there was a "huge amount" going on behind the scenes.

"There are still some differences between us, but we share [Larijani's] preference for early bilateral discussions to find a diplomatic solution to this problem," one British official told the Monitor, on customary condition of anonymity.

Indeed, said experts, such an approach would more likely to lead to a solution.

"What is to be gained from following the Israeli example of last summer [when it invaded Lebanon after its soldier was captured]?" asks Rosemary Hollis, a Middle East expert also at Chatham House, "You can't use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. They still haven't got their service personnel back, and they smashed up half of Lebanon."

The key in such situations is to find "a formula which both sides can benefit from, says Dr. Hollis.

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