Iran's hard-liners capitalise on captive sailors

By Edmund Blair - Analysis

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's anti-Western hard-liners are trying to capitalise on the capture of 15 British sailors and marines by sidelining more moderate opponents.

Iranian analysts say the hard-liners want to turn the stand-off into an issue of national pride and that moderates risk being seen as ready to capitulate if they counsel caution.

Britain, which with other big powers also faces a stand-off with Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme, may inadvertently have strengthened opponents of compromise by taking the case to the United Nations and raising the stakes, the analysts say.

"hard-liners will make the most of this. They are now in a position to say 'Didn't we tell you that these are the powers looking for any pretext to put pressure on us?'" said one Iranian analyst, who asked not to be identified.

"It has become more difficult for the moderates and pragmatists to solve the issue," he added.

British officials say they had no choice but to take a firmer line after a more low-key approach failed to end the stand-off.

The seizure of the 15 on March 23 by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, a bastion for opponents of accommodation with the West, sparked a diplomatic crisis at a time when international tensions were already high over Iran's nuclear programme.

Tehran says the detained sailors and marines entered Iranian waters illegally. London says they were in Iraqi territory.