Britain's defense ministry has defended its decision to allow the sailors and marines freed by Iran last week to sell their stories - a reversal of usual policy. On Sunday, the ministry said that huge public interest made the circumstances exceptional.

While Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad portrayed the release of the 14 men and one woman as a gift and a goodwill gesture, there has been a lot of speculation about other motives behind the move.

The end of the standoff between Britain and Iran still leaves many questions unanswered. Chief among them is why Iran took such a deliberately provocative action as seizing British sailors and marines. As VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports, many analysts believe the heart of the matter lies in the struggle between Iran and the United States for influence in Iraq and the Middle East.

Oil prices dropped Thursday as Iran's announcement that it would free 15 detained British sailors helped to ease fears about a disruption in oil supplies. Light, sweet crude for May delivery fell 13 cents to US$64.25 a barrel in midmorning Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. This followed a drop of 26 cents the day before.

An Iranian news agency, Fars, has published new photos of the 15 British sailors taken captive by Iranian forces last month. The photos show the sailors wearing track suits, seated in a group on a carpet and smiling.

Benchmark crude prices dipped below US$65 Tuesday as tensions in the Britain-Iran standoff eased. Prices had risen steadily since 15 British sailors and marines were detained March 23 by Iran for allegedly entering Iranian waters.

Iran's extended Norouz (New Year) holidays and a parliamentary recess have resulted in little public comments in Iran about the March 23 detentions of 15 British naval personnel in the Persian Gulf, most politicians and other groups have been supportive of the government's action as the proper response to a perceived violation of Iran's territorial waters.

U.S. President George Bush says Iran must unconditionally release 15 British naval personnel seized this past week. VOA White House Correspondent reports, Mr. Bush discussed the matter Saturday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who vowed to continue his country's commercial ties with Iran.

London says the 15 British sailors and marines captured on March 23 were unlawfully seized in Iraqi waters, while Tehran says they trespassed into Iranian territory. Both sides are producing evidence: Britain with satellite maps, Iran with the "confessions" of the sailors themselves.

The British government said it was in direct contact with Iran and examining options for new dialogue over the seized crew of 15 sailors and marines. There were few signs of tensions easing in Iran, where students pelted Britain's embassy with rocks and firecrackers and a television station aired new footage of two captured seamen in front of a map of the Persian Gulf.

Iran is responding to criticism from European Union officials about 15 British sailors and marines Iran says it detained in Iranian waters.

Britain has responded to a letter from Iran concerning Tehran's detention of 15 British sailors and marines. Officials in London Saturday said a written response was issued to the communiqué that Iran sent to Britain on Thursday. The officials did not reveal the contents of the letter, which is believed to be the first written communication between the two nations since the crisis began March 23.