US keen to avoid 'escalation of tensions' with Iran following capture of British sailors

By Rupert Cornwell in Washington
Published: 29 March 2007

Despite its latest large scale naval exercises in the Gulf and the dispute over Teheran's nuclear programme, the US claims it is doing its utmost not to add to the new tensions between the West and Iran following last Friday's capture of 15 British sailors and marines by Iranian forces.

"There is no escalation of tensions on our part," Dana Perino, the White House spokeswoman, told reporters yesterday, after announcing that President Bush had discussed the crisis with Iran in a video conference call with Tony Blair - a discussion, she insisted, scheduled well before the incident. more