U.S. rejects exchange of captives with Iran

Story Highlights

• U.S. rejects deal to exchange 15 British sailors for five Iranians held in Iraq
• EU foreign ministers demand the sailors' release
• Letter said to be from female UK sailor says she has been "sacrificed"
• Tony Blair says Iran faces "continuing isolation" over UK detainees

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TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- U.S. officials say they have ruled out a possible deal to exchange the 15 British Royal Navy personnel captured by Iran for five Iranians held by U.S. forces in Iraq.

Reports that such a swap could take place were wrong, U.S. State department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters on Friday.

"The international community is not going to stand for the Iranian government trying to use this issue to distract the rest of the world from the situation in which Iran finds itself vis-a-vis its nuclear program," McCormack said.

The five Iranians are reported to be members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized in Irbil, Iraq, in January.

Tehran is continuing to defy international pressure to release the sailors and Royal Marines as the crisis enters its ninth day.

Britain denies Iran's assertion that the UK crew was in its waters when seized on 23 March.

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was disgusted at Iran's behavior and accused the Iranians of manipulating the British detainees.

Blair said TV clips of the crew would "fool no one" and insisted the crisis could only be resolved by their release.

Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers on Friday demanded Iran release 15 Britons, though some warned against escalating the dispute and said their diplomatic ties with Tehran would not be immediately affected, AP reported. (Full story)

On Thursday, the UN Security Council expressed concern for the marines and sailors and appealed for their early release. (Watch the war of words build )

The U.N. statement fell short of a full condemnation sought by the British government.

A third letter

On Friday, Iran released a third letter purportedly written by detained British sailor Faye Turney, in which she claims to have been "sacrificed" by British and U.S. policies and urges both countries to withdraw their troops from Iraq. (Full story)

The letter, the authenticity of which cannot be independently determine by CNN, follows two previous letters said to be written by Turney and released separately this week. (Watch Turney say what happened when she was captured )

Friday's letter was released just hours after Turney appeared with two other Britons in new video aired by Arabic language network Al Alam. (Text of letters)

In the video, one the 15 detained service personnel held in Iran for the past week confessed to "entering your waters without permission."

"On the 23rd of March 2007 in Iranian waters we trespassed without permission," said Nathan Thomas Summers. The third detainee in the video has not been identified. (Watch detained British sailor make his 'confession' )

Summers said the Britons were being treated well, as did the Turney letter.

Blair, speaking to reporters after the video was aired said: "All this does is enhance people's sense of disgust. Captured personnel being paraded and manipulated in this way doesn't fool anyone.

"What the Iranians have to realize is that if they continue in this way they will face continuing isolation."

Blair called for "patience" in dealing with the crisis, adding: "The most important thing is to ensure people are returned safe."

Earlier Friday, Britain's Foreign Office responded to the video, telling CNN that "using our servicemen in this way for propaganda reasons is outrageous."

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