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British naval personnel who were detained in Iran wave to journalists after they were released as a "gift to the British people" by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran April 4, 2007. [Reuters]

TEHRAN - The 15 British military personnel who had been held by Iran left Tehran on a flight to London on Thursday, ending a two-week standoff that raised international tension and rattled financial markets.

Special coverage: British Sailors Freed Readers' Comment: I Believe Mr Ahmadinejab should be a candidate for the Alfred Nobel peace prize for his contribution to defusing international tensions in a volatible troubled area in this part of our planet------This man is a man of great wisdom who is placing his wisdom in actual practice------but unfortunately he is being miss-understood by some and his political enemies who are taking advantage of his miss-interpretations, and is being strumentalized in their propaganda campaigns against Iran and the peaceful Iranian people. - Sammy Click for more comments Related readings:  Britain, Iran hold high-level talks in sailor row  Iranian diplomat seized in Iraq released  Iranian TV airs new video of detained sailors  Iran sees positive signs in UK stance  All UK captives say entered illegally  UK denounces video of seized sailors  Protest in Iran targets British Embassy  Britain studying Iran standoff options  Bush to Iran: 'Give back the hostages'  Iran airs second British's apology  UN urges resolution of Iran seizure  UK turns up heat on Iran over sailors  Iran TV shows footage of UK sailors  Brit presses Iran; woman may be freed  Blair warns Iran standoff could escalate  Iran: Sailors being treated humanely

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a news conference broadcast round the world on Wednesday he had decided to forgive and free the 15 sailors and marines even though Britain was not "brave enough" to admit they had strayed into Iran's territory.

The peaceful end to the standoff, which began when Tehran seized the 15 in the Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iraq and Iran on March 23, prompted a drop in oil prices from recent highs. U.S. stock futures and the dollar rose in relief.
Iranian officials whisked the 15 through the airport building to the British Mediterranean Airways plane, keeping them away from journalists, witnesses said.

"The plane has taken off," Iran Radio said.

A British diplomat, asking not to be named, said the Britons would travel in the business class section and that no one apart from the 15 and people accompanying them would be allowed in that part of the plane.

"The 15 will be accompanied by three or four British embassy staff and there will be no access for the media until the plane reaches Britain," said the diplomat.

A 57-year-old Iranian businessman, one of at least two people downgraded to economy class to ensure the business section was only for the Britons, said: "We understood the reason. We are very happy this (standoff) has been concluded."

At his news conference, Ahmadinejad said: "Under the influence of the Muslim Prophet, (Iran) forgives these 15 people and gives their freedom to the British people as a gift."

In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the release of the 15.

"Throughout we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting either," Blair told reporters. "To the Iranian people I would simply say this: we bear you no ill will."

The dispute centred on where the Britons were when they were seized. Britain says they were in Iraqi waters on a routine U.N. mission. Tehran says they strayed into its territorial waters.

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