TEHRAN, Iran — About 200 Iranian youths threw rocks and firecrackers at the British Embassy yesterday, as the British government said it was in direct contact with Iran over the capture of 15 British sailors and marines.Defence Secretary Des Browne said Britain was in “direct, bilateral communication with the Iranians.” A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said Browne was referring to letters and other contacts between diplomats, rather than any new face-to-face talks.

Browne, on a visit to Afghanistan, said Britain had “the support of almost the whole international community” in calling for the release of its personnel, who were seized by Iran 10 days ago.

Britain maintains they were in Iraqi waters when detained, but Iran has contended the Britons entered its waters illegally.

In Iran, hardliners called for their government to remain firm.

At yesterday’s protest, several dozen policemen prevented the protesters from entering the embassy compound, although a few briefly scaled a fence outside the compound’s walls before being pushed back, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

The protesters chanted “Death to Britain” and “Death to America” as they hurled stones into the courtyard of the embassy. They also demanded that the Iranian government expel the British ambassador and close down the embassy, calling it a “den of spies.”

Britain’s Foreign Office said there had been no damage to the compound.

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman in London, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government rules, said diplomats were working normally inside the embassy.

“There is a police presence outside and there is no risk to those inside,” said the spokeswoman.

British government and defence officials refused to discuss a report that claimed a Royal Navy captain or commodore would be sent to Tehran as a special envoy to negotiate the return of the personnel.

The official would deliver an assurance that British naval crews would never deliberately enter Iranian waters without permission, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

Transport Minister Douglas Alexander said Britain was engaged in “exploring the potential for dialogue with the Iranians.”

“The responsible way forward is to continue the often unglamorous, but important and quiet diplomatic work to get our personnel home,” Alexander told the British Broadcasting Corp.’s Sunday AM programme.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett appeared to soften rhetoric against Iran on Saturday — though she stopped far short of the apology sought by many in Iran.

“I think everyone regrets that this position has arisen,” Beckett said in Bremen, Germany, before returning to England. “What we want is a way out of it.”