In other news on Iran, the British government has announced it is willing to send a delegation to Tehran to help ease the crisis over the 15 detained British sailors. Iran’s First Vice President Parviz Davoudi said Britain should admit its forces had illegally entered Iranian waters and guarantee that they would not do so again. Iran’s capture of the British sailors came two months after the U.S. seized five Iranian officials in Iraq. On Tuesday, President Bush said the United States would not be willing to give up the five Iranians held in Iraq in exchange for the British sailors.

President Bush: “First of all, the seizure of the sailors is indefensible by the Iranians. And I support the (Tony) Blair government’s attempts to solve this issue peacefully so we’re in close consultation with the British government. I also strongly support the prime minister’s declaration that there should be no quid pro quos when it comes to the hostages.”

The U.S. has been holding the five Iranians in an undisclosed location since Jan. 11. The Iraqi government has urged the Bush administration to release the five Iranians, but the U.S. has ignored the requests.