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Iran
Saturday 31st March, 2007 14:15 Comments: 1
The 15 Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran could stand trial for "entering Iranian waters", a senior Iranian diplomat has said. The UK government continues to state that the captives were seized in Iraqi waters and has demanded their "immediate" return. One of the many reasons why I suspect the UK are telling the truth is because of Iran's inconsistency over the events:
  1. HMS Cornwall was south-east of a merchant ship, both were inside Iraqi waters
  2. Iran tells UK that the merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters
  3. The UK (perhaps feeling rather smug?) points this out
  4. Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters (according to "seized GPS equipment", the crew had allegedly previously entered Iranian waters at several points)
US state department spokesman Sean McCormack has already rejected suggestions that a swap could be made for five Iranians captured in Iraq by US forces in January. The Iranians, believed to be members of the Revolutionary Guard, were taken in a raid in the city of Irbil, along with equipment which the Americans say shows clear Iranian links to networks supplying Iraqi insurgents with technology and weapons.

It looks to me like Iran is spoiling for a fight. I wonder if the US and UK will give them one. At least there's plenty of evidence this time.
Avatar Fab - Saturday 31st March, 2007 18:35
I got to admit my blood boils on this one. What the Iranians are doing to those marines is totally outrageous and quite frankly illegal as well as bollocks. I feel that the UK should be more robust in its response (ie.Blow Iranian gunboats out of the water on the border), but I guess if we want the marines back alive, we have to play softly softly.

I wonder if the EU will stop all export credits to Iran and if the UK would issue international arrest warrants on Iranian officials on the charge of kidnap? I would like to see that.
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