LONDON, England (CNN) -- Fifteen British service members detained for most of the past two weeks in Iran were reunited with their families on Thursday after flying home from Tehran.
The group of sailors and marines landed at London's Heathrow Airport around midday following a six-hour flight before being transferred by helicopter to a military base in Chivenor, southwestern England. (Watch the former detainees' arrival back home to the UK )
Video showed the group, still in their uniforms, laughing and hugging family members. Some posed for pictures while others talked on cell phones. They were also due to undergo debriefings and medical examinations. (Watch former detainees reunite with friends and families )
Speaking in Downing Street as the British Airways flight carrying the 15 landed in London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed their release, announced by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a "gift" on Wednesday, but reiterated that no diplomatic deals had been done to secure their release.
Blair said the group's homecoming was a reason to "rejoice" but noted that their arrival back to the UK came amid news of the deaths of four British soldiers in Iraq.
"We are glad that our service personnel return safe and unharmed from their captivity, but on the other, we return to the sober and ugly reality of what is happening through terrorism in Iraq," he said. (Watch Blair's remarks on the 15's release )
Blair said the group's sudden release vindicated the UK's "dual-track strategy" of pursuing bilateral dialogue while mobilizing international pressure, adding that their return had been secured "without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature whatsoever."
New channels
He said the crisis had opened up new channels of communication with Tehran which it would be "sensible" to pursue and said it was the "right moment" to reflect on relations with Iran.
"But there cannot be any misunderstanding of the basis upon which that communication takes place," said Blair. "We have to hold absolutely firm in relation to support from any aspect of the Iranian regime for terrorism.
"If Iran has genuine concerns about the region, or concerns about what's happening there, those are things that can be discussed. What you cannot have is where there is an attempt to subvert the will of the democratically elected government in Iraq, or the international community."
Responding to the claim by Ahmadinejad that the UK had sent a letter of apology to Tehran vowing not to intrude into Iranian territorial waters, Blair noted that the claim was "nothing new" since British forces should not have been in Iranian waters, adding "obviously it's our contention that they weren't," in reference to the 15 marines and sailors.
Blair also dismissed suggestions that any deal had been made involving the release of Iranians held in Iraq.
"Let me make it absolutely clear: No, there are no agreements about any Iranian elements that may be held in Iraq because they're being held in Iraq as a result of the wrongful interference with the business in Iraq," Blair said.
Carrying large duffel bags and brightly patterned gift bags, the detainees strolled onto the tarmac after arriving at Heathrow -- the sailors wearing blue uniforms and the marines in fatigues -- and briefly lined up for a photo-op.
Earlier, they were seen off from Tehran by Britain's ambassador to Iran, Geoffrey Adams, Iran's state-run IRIB network reported. The crew members sat in business class on the flight, according to an Associated Press reporter.
Before boarding, the Britons were pictured receiving and inspecting gifts given to them on Ahmadinejad's behalf.
The service members' departure from Iran came hours after Ahmadinejad announced at a Wednesday news conference that they were free to leave. (Watch how Iran's PR plan unfolded )
The service members had been denied British consular access and held in a secret location never divulged by the Iranian government since March 23. (Timeline)
Big party
Meanwhile, friends and family of one of the detained sailors, Nathan Summers, are planning "a big party" in the small town of Hayle, southwestern England, to celebrate his release, Summers' grandmother April Rawsthorne told CNN's "American Morning" on Thursday.
"We're a large family and we have loads of friends," she said. "We're all going to get together and have a really good night out."
The party began on Wednesday at the Cornubia Pub in Hayle, where Summers worked before joining the Royal Navy, following news of the 15's imminent release.
"We really will celebrate once I actually see my son on English soil," said Summers' mother, Tracey Watkins. "That will be the time. When he's in my arms." (Watch Summers' friends and family raise their glasses in joy )
The group of sailors and marines landed at London's Heathrow Airport around midday following a six-hour flight before being transferred by helicopter to a military base in Chivenor, southwestern England. (Watch the former detainees' arrival back home to the UK )
Video showed the group, still in their uniforms, laughing and hugging family members. Some posed for pictures while others talked on cell phones. They were also due to undergo debriefings and medical examinations. (Watch former detainees reunite with friends and families )
Speaking in Downing Street as the British Airways flight carrying the 15 landed in London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed their release, announced by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a "gift" on Wednesday, but reiterated that no diplomatic deals had been done to secure their release.
Blair said the group's homecoming was a reason to "rejoice" but noted that their arrival back to the UK came amid news of the deaths of four British soldiers in Iraq.
"We are glad that our service personnel return safe and unharmed from their captivity, but on the other, we return to the sober and ugly reality of what is happening through terrorism in Iraq," he said. (Watch Blair's remarks on the 15's release )
Blair said the group's sudden release vindicated the UK's "dual-track strategy" of pursuing bilateral dialogue while mobilizing international pressure, adding that their return had been secured "without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature whatsoever."
New channels
He said the crisis had opened up new channels of communication with Tehran which it would be "sensible" to pursue and said it was the "right moment" to reflect on relations with Iran.
"But there cannot be any misunderstanding of the basis upon which that communication takes place," said Blair. "We have to hold absolutely firm in relation to support from any aspect of the Iranian regime for terrorism.
"If Iran has genuine concerns about the region, or concerns about what's happening there, those are things that can be discussed. What you cannot have is where there is an attempt to subvert the will of the democratically elected government in Iraq, or the international community."
Responding to the claim by Ahmadinejad that the UK had sent a letter of apology to Tehran vowing not to intrude into Iranian territorial waters, Blair noted that the claim was "nothing new" since British forces should not have been in Iranian waters, adding "obviously it's our contention that they weren't," in reference to the 15 marines and sailors.
Blair also dismissed suggestions that any deal had been made involving the release of Iranians held in Iraq.
"Let me make it absolutely clear: No, there are no agreements about any Iranian elements that may be held in Iraq because they're being held in Iraq as a result of the wrongful interference with the business in Iraq," Blair said.
Carrying large duffel bags and brightly patterned gift bags, the detainees strolled onto the tarmac after arriving at Heathrow -- the sailors wearing blue uniforms and the marines in fatigues -- and briefly lined up for a photo-op.
Earlier, they were seen off from Tehran by Britain's ambassador to Iran, Geoffrey Adams, Iran's state-run IRIB network reported. The crew members sat in business class on the flight, according to an Associated Press reporter.
Before boarding, the Britons were pictured receiving and inspecting gifts given to them on Ahmadinejad's behalf.
The service members' departure from Iran came hours after Ahmadinejad announced at a Wednesday news conference that they were free to leave. (Watch how Iran's PR plan unfolded )
The service members had been denied British consular access and held in a secret location never divulged by the Iranian government since March 23. (Timeline)
Big party
Meanwhile, friends and family of one of the detained sailors, Nathan Summers, are planning "a big party" in the small town of Hayle, southwestern England, to celebrate his release, Summers' grandmother April Rawsthorne told CNN's "American Morning" on Thursday.
"We're a large family and we have loads of friends," she said. "We're all going to get together and have a really good night out."
The party began on Wednesday at the Cornubia Pub in Hayle, where Summers worked before joining the Royal Navy, following news of the 15's imminent release.
"We really will celebrate once I actually see my son on English soil," said Summers' mother, Tracey Watkins. "That will be the time. When he's in my arms." (Watch Summers' friends and family raise their glasses in joy )
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