EXPRESSING GRATITUDE: Ki-Moon has thanked the Iranian President for releasing the detained British sailors.

Ban thanks Iran prez for freeing sailors

The UN Secretary General has thanked Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for releasing the detained sailors.

British sailors arrive at Tehran airport

Iran defused a growing confrontation with Britain on Wednesday announcing the surprise release of 15 sailors.

US President George Bush on Saturday called Iran's detention of 15 British sailors and marines "inexcusable behavior".

Iran's ambassador to Moscow on Saturday denied suggesting that the British sailors and marines detained by Iran may face trial there.

US rejects deal to exchange 15 British sailors for five Iranians held in Iraq. EU foreign ministers demand sailors' release.

Iranian state television has broadcast a second video of a captured British sailor admitting to trespassing.

If the British sailors are not released, the 27-member EU 'will decide on appropriate measures,' said a statement.

There is no breakthrough in the US-British tensions over Iran and news reports suggest that US might attack Iran.

There's no end in sight to the standoff between Iran and Britain over the capture of 15 British sailors.

Iranian television has showed footage of the British sailors who are being detained for allegedly entering Iranian waters.

Britain decided on Wednesday to freeze official contacts with Iran as the dispute over the detained British sailors escalated.

The crisis began when British sailors boarded a commercial ship suspected of carrying smuggled cars.