President Ahmadinejad said he was willing to forgive the sailors

There is mixed reaction in Iran's papers to the country releasing the British naval personnel unconditionally.

Some papers feel Iran sent out a strong international message and that it could use the incident to humiliate the West.

But several others say the release without an apology from the UK wounded Iran's pride, with one urging President Ahmedinejad to explain his decision.

However, one daily feels the affair may herald the start of "active diplomacy" between Iran and the West.

The release ... carries two messages for the West. It proves Iran's authority and power in confronting aggressors at any level ... It also shows that Iran avoids any kind of tension in its relations with the international community ... Iran could skilfully humiliate the West in this incident.

We do not regret defending our country ... The release of an Iranian diplomat in Iraq and the Iranian delegation's visit to our kidnapped diplomats in Arbil after two months prove that America and the UK have realized Iran's power.

Ahmadinejad's order to release the British marines certainly put an end to rising tension between Iran and the West ... However, Iran's withdrawal of all its legal demands has surprised the people because we did not see any obvious flexibility from the UK.

Iran had repeatedly announced that the marines would be released if the UK apologized. London did not do that and Blair even set a 48-hour ultimatum ... It is worth asking Ahmadinejad, "what does Iran's withdrawal mean?"

We should have avoided taking any action that could damage Iranians' dignity and honour... The release of the British sailors just a day after Tony Blair's empty threat did not arouse any sense of pride among Iranians but possibly even a sort of repulsion.

The positive foundations that resulted ... may mark the beginning of a new stage of active diplomacy as events showed that the language of dialogue is the only means to solve differences.

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.