Iranians ‘will feel they have won’ dispute over sailors

Iran probably released the 15 British Navy personnel because it realised it could make no further political capital from holding them, a military expert said.

Tehran’s handling of the crisis as a public relations stunt was “brilliant” and will have bolstered domestic support for the regime, according to former Army officer Amyas Godfrey. An associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Mr Godfrey, said he was not surprised at the timing of their release.

“It was coming soon. The hints were that the next 48 hours were crucial,” he said.