Foreign Minister Steinmeier said in statements to reporters on Wednesday that the UN Security Council was increasing pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program and that the door to talks with the Iran remained open.

"This is a start and I hope that this start will open the door to further cooperation," he said, adding that the international community was ready to resume negotiations with Iran on the nuclear issue at any time.

"I hope that it is not only on this issue where we can avoid things coming to a head, but that this can be a starting point for dealing with other issues," Steinmeier said after Iran freed the sailors and marines it seized on March 23.

The UN Security Council voted unanimously last month to impose new sanctions on Iran over its refusal to heed demands from major powers to halt uranium enrichment. Tehran says its nuclear program is purely for electricity production.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana discussed prospects for negotiations on Iran's nuclear program with Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani in a telephone call shortly before Iran freed the 15 British navy personnel, an EU official said on Thursday.

"The contents are confidential, but I can say they discussed the nuclear file and the possibility of getting back to negotiations," the official told Reuters, adding that contacts remained open and another telephone call was likely soon.

Welcoming the news

From governments to investors, news that Iran had released the British naval personnel brought an international sigh of relief, but the biggest celebrations were with their families.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed the news, insisting there had been "no negotiation" to secure their freedom.

"Throughout we have taken a measured approach: firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting either," he said, in a statement outside his Downing Street office, alongside Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett.

"I would like to thank our allies in Europe, our allies in the United Nations Security Council for their support and also our friends and allies in the region who played their part," he said.

Other sighs of relief

"As Prime Minister Blair said, President (George W.) Bush also welcomes the news," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

US officials denied the release was linked to US authorities granting consular access to five Iranians held incognito since being seized in Iraq three months ago.

"There is no link whatsoever," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.

Russia also welcomed the release, describing it as a "goodwill gesture" and claiming some credit.

"We view this as a goodwill gesture on the part of the Iranian leadership," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.

"Certain actions, appeals to the Iranians by us, also had an effect," he said. "We proceeded mainly from humanitarian considerations and also from the fact that such incidents serve to increase tensions, which is highly undesirable under the circumstances."

Families happiest

But the biggest relief was with the families, who could barely contain their joy.

"I'm just so happy today," April Rawsthorne, grandmother of 21-year-old Royal Navy sailor Nathan Summers, clutching a bottle of champagne, told Sky News. "We've been absolutely devastated these last 13 days; it's been the longest of my life."

"He's gone from a boy to a man in these last weeks. He looks a million dollars. He's cool," added her husband Brian.

"Whoever has been in the right or wrong, the whole thing has been a political mess, so let's just get them home. It's great," said Ray Cooper, uncle of 22-year-old Royal Marine Adam Sperry.