Tension had built up following a CNN report mentioning US intelligence reports that ``it is possible'' at least some of the held diplomats might have been killed by the Taliban. The state-owned radio in Tehran yesterday said Iran would take ``necessary measures within the framework of legitimate defence''. Iran also did not pull about 70,000 troops back from its eastern border with Afghanistan in view of Taliban's military adventures in Afghanistan.

Iranian newspapers have been stringently critical of the Taliban for not releasing the 11 diplomats, one IRNA news agency journalist and others, who were taken prisoners by the Taliban, and have more or less favoured a well-considered military strike. The media, however, has also cautionedabout the consequences of any military move, saying the memories of the protracted war with Iraq are still fresh in people's minds.