LONDON - Britain does not wish to escalate a standoff with Iran over 15 detained sailors, Prime Minister Tony Blair`s spokesman said Tuesday, seeking to clarify a warning of the row entering a "different phase."
The spokesman denied that Blair`s warning -- made in a television interview -- indicated the possibility of, for example, throwing out Iran`s ambassador or military action.
"It`s a different phase of how we`re handling it at this stage," he told a daily briefing.
The spokesman reiterated that London was "utterly certain" that the 15 navy personnel were in Iraqi waters when they were detained in the Shatt al-Arab waterway Friday.
"So far we haven`t made explicit why we know that because we don`t want to escalate this," he said, adding: "We don`t want to do that too soon because we prefer to have this ... resolved quietly."
But he added: "We may come to the stage where we have to become more explicit about why we know this."
Speaking earlier on GMTV television, Blair said that London was trying to "pursue this through the diplomatic channels and make the Iranian government understand these people have to be released.
"I hope we manage to get them to realise they have to release them. If not, then this will move into a different phase."
03/27/2007 10:57 GMT