Within hours, however, the Iranians were rolling back on that timetable, saying that Britain's "bad behavior" had prompted them to delay her release.

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Hardliners within the Iranian leadership may have overruled the release, believing that Iran needed to assert itself at a time when it feels under threat from the West, some analysts said.

"They are saying they are a power to be reckoned with in the region," said Joost Hiltermann, a Middle East expert from the International Crisis Group, a think tank. "It's a very dangerous game. Anything can go wrong at any moment."

British officials have ruled out Iran's demand that they apologize for the alleged "illegal entry" of the sailors and marines into Iranian territory. Prime Minister Tony Blair insists the seizure occurred well inside Iraqi waters.

But with the stakes high and options few, Britain has sounded willing in recent days to explore ways of seeking a dialogue with Iran - no matter how long it takes.

"The responsible way forward is to continue the often unglamorous, but important and quiet diplomatic work to get our personnel home," Transport Minister Douglas Alexander told the British Broadcasting Corp.

National pride has always been strong in Iran and hardliners have often successfully used it to rally domestic support, analysts note.

"For years, Britain has been doing whatever it could against Iran in various fields, such as the nuclear issue. They have to learn that it costs something," said Mahmoud Jafari, a 37-year-old teacher.

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