Russia welcomes Iran's decision to free 15 detained British sailors, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said on Wednesday.

"We think this is a good humanitarian gesture, without going into legal and actual details of this incident," the Itar-Tass quoted Losyukov as saying.

Losyukov said Russia has told Iran that such a move will "be useful in terms of resolving the tense situation around Iran."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday afternoon announced that Iran will free the sailors later that day.

The announcement came moments after the Iranian president honored the Iranian coast guards who intercepted the British "trespassers."

On March 23, Iranian forces seized 15 British naval personnel. Iran said the British forces were in its territorial waters, but Britain denied the accusation.

Source: Xinhua