Iran released 15 British sailors on Wednesday as a "gift" to the people of Britain in a dramatic end to a 13-day crisis that had triggered a new diplomatic standoff between Tehran and the West.
"Even though Iran has the right to put the Britons on trial, it has pardoned them to mark the March 30 birthday of the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the upcoming Easter holiday. This pardon is a gift to the British people," Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a news conference.
The 15 British naval personnel held by Iran have boarded a flight to London at Tehran airport.
The eight sailors and seven marines, all in their 20s, were arrested while they intruded into Iraninan waters on March 23.
The families of the detainees erupted in joy and relief at the news, which came after 13 days of a sometimes heated propaganda war.
"We are grateful for your forgiveness," one sailor was heard telling Ahmadinejad, who in turn wished them good luck. The men were wearing suits while the sole woman captive, Faye Turney, was in trousers and a headscarf.
Ahmadinejad told the news conference that Britain was not "brave enough" to admit it had made a mistake in the standoff, which began when Tehran seized the 15 in the Shatt al-Arab waterway on March 23.
But the western infidel, so-called leader of the UK, Tony Blair, did not even give a hand of thanks to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Instead this invader and war criminal, killer of millions of muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, thanked allies in Europe, the UN Security Council , who were nowhere near to help them. The puppets were just barking speculations and imaginary ideas, without even trying to have talks with Iran.
This should be a good example for the western puppet governments, who are living lives of personal benefits and self interests.
KC
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