Press welcomes end to UK navy row

President Ahmadinejad said the release was a gift to the UK

Papers in the Middle East and elsewhere applaud the fact that the row over 15 British navy personnel held by Iran was brought to an end through diplomacy.

Several papers hope the dialogue opened up between Britain and Iran will continue.

Many feel that Iran has emerged the victor from the crisis but at least one warns the Iranian leadership not to let this success go to its head.

FAYSAL AL-BATUT IN QATAR'S AL-WATAN

The British prime minister has undergone a happy experience with Iran, one which seems to have prompted him to launch his call to the international community to be willing to deal with Tehran.

EGYPT'S PRO-GOVERNMENT AL-AKHBAR

It seems Iran achieved its aims in the operation. It detained the sailors... to create an opportunity for dialogue with Britain and the EU after a period of coldness between the two sides because of the Iranian nuclear programme.

PAN-ARAB AL-QUDS AL-ARABI

The Iranians achieved two important victories - firstly, a military victory by successfully capturing the sailors and secondly, a diplomatic victory by compelling the British government to call for direct talks with Tehran.

FERAI TINC IN TURKEY'S HURRIYET

Talking and inclusion are always more effective than isolation and pressurising. This may, for a while, look as though oppressive regimes are being tolerated, but in the long run, it forces them to give their word and keep it.

MEHMET ALI BIRAND IN TURKEY'S POSTA

This mini crisis has taught everyone important lessons. Once more, it has been understood that Iran is intrepid. The UK also showed that it will not surrender easily.

SAMI KOHEN IN TURKEY'S MILLIYET

The Iranians have gained from the hostage crisis. However, the Iranian administration must not think that the game it has played successfully this time will go that way every time.

HIKMET BILA IN TURKEY'S CUMHURIYET

Iranian President Ahmadinejad released the British captives, dropping a dramatic propaganda bombshell before the entire world... The Iran-UK crisis has been resolved for now. Iran seemed to be right over this issue.

AMIR MAHIR IN PAN-ARAB AL-SHARQ AL-AWSAT

Is the capture of the British sailors part of an operation to launch an attack against the opposition in Iran? This is the question being asked in Tehran where the establishment is discussing future internal and foreign policies.

PAKISTAN'S PAKISTAN

[Iran's] decision has been welcomed by the entire world, including the UK. By treating the prisoners well and releasing them, Iran has sent a message to the USA to stop the maltreatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.