TEHRAN: Britain and Iran have started talks to resolve the standoff over the capture of 15 British sailors accused of entering Iranian waters, top security official Ali Larijani told state media on Tuesday.

"The British government has started diplomatic discussions with the foreign ministry to resolve the issue of the British soldiers," Larijani told state television's central news agency.

"It is at the beginning of the path. If they continue on this path then logically conditions can change and we can go towards ending this issue."