Iran: U.K. Must Admit Fault To End Dispute

Demands Britain Admit Its Sailors Entered Iranian Waters To Resolve Standoff Over Their Capture

(CBS/AP)  Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that Britain must admit that its 15 sailors and marines entered Iranian waters in order to resolve a standoff over their capture by the Mideast nation.

Manouchehr Mottaki's statement in an interview with The Associated Press came on a day of escalating tensions, highlighted by an Iranian video of the detained Britons that showed the only woman captive saying her group had "trespassed" in Iranian waters. Britain angrily denounced the video as unacceptable and froze most dealings with the Mideast nation.

Mottaki said that if the alleged entry into Iranian waters was a mistake "this can be solved. But they have to show that it was a mistake, that will help us to end this issue."

"Admitting the mistake will facilitate a solution to the problem," he said late Wednesday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he was attending a summit of Arab leaders.

It was the first time that Iran has publicly suggested a way to resolve the crisis, but British acquiescence appeared unlikely as the country has been insisting since the crisis began that its troops were in Iraqi waters and released documents on Wednesday to back up the claim.

There was no immediate comment from the British to Mottaki's statement. A call to Britain's Foreign Office in London was not answered early Thursday.

Mottaki also backed off a prediction that the female sailor, Faye Turney, could be freed Wednesday or Thursday, but said Tehran agreed to allow British officials to meet with service personnel.

"We have accepted that (the British request), there is no problem. Measures are underway (to arrange meeting.) They can meet them," he said.

"With Iran's foreign minister now saying that Tehran will allow British officials to meet with the detained British sailors and marines, the crisis is turning to at least some level of diplomacy," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk, "but the longer the soldiers remain in Iranian custody, the more volatile the crisis becomes, particularly with increased U.S. and British military hardware in the Gulf."

Iran has now held these British sailors longer than the ones it seized three years ago, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. And former CIA officer Bruce Reidel says this time, Iran has a president who's made a career of defying the West.

"I think we're dealing with a much more tough and vigorous opponent than the Brits were dealing with when three years ago they had a similar incident like this," Reidel says. "I think they want to just send the message, 'Don't mess around with us because we can mess around with you. You are very, very vulnerable in Iraq these days.'"

British Prime Minister Tony Blair's government announced it was freezing all dealings with Iran except to negotiate the release of its personnel, adding to a public exchange of sharp comments that helped fuel a spike in world oil prices.

Britain's military released a GPS readout it said proved the Royal Navy personnel were seized 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters Friday. But Mottaki said Iran had GPS devices from the British boats that showed they were in Iranian territory.

A few hours later, a brief video of the captured Britons was shown on Iran's Arabic language satellite television station, Al-Alam.

[gunnerv1]

Why can't we all just get along. Do you realize just how stupid that sounds. We "all" can't just get along be cause we are all different. We'er not all "Special" (just like everybody else), we all have different Social Values, That's what makes this country great. We are allowed by the laws of God to be different, not the laws of man. Time for a "Group Hug", now don't you feel better. I feel the love NOT.

[tuckerndfw]

There is something ironic about a headline that proclaims UK forces being "ambushed" in "Iraqi waters."

What were UK forces doing in Iraqi waters? And, which "international law" did Tony Blair invoke when he sent them there?

Tony Blair and George Bush whining about "international law" would be humorously ironic if the consequences were not so tragic.

It they complied with international law, UK & US forces would not be in "Iraqi waters."

[jscribe58]

The longer the British stall on this, the worse it's going to get. Iran is playing the same game they played when they held fifty Americans hostage. They stalled and lied to keep the upper hand, while we stood by and did nothing. The end result was that our people were detained for a year while Iran gloated. The British need to tell the Iranians that they either release the sailors or they're coming to get them. After battling terrorists in a war we and the British apparantely don't know how to fight, they're offering one that we do know how to fight. It's time to stop the lies and rteply to the standoff.

[gotagrip]

My suggestion would be not to mount a deadly raid to free them, even if you know where they are, which they apparently don't. I suggest telling them that a key military target will be destroyed every day until all the hostages are returned. If the hostages are killed, then the bombings continue until they sue for peace. Also, take out their one gas refinery and blockade their country. They won't last long. If they try to attack our troops in Iraq, it will give the troops a chance to do what they do so well versus playing police like they have to do now. We've got them surrounded on 3 sides (Afghanistan, Iraq and by sea).

[pwrslm]

Entering Iraq territory and kidnapping Brit's in Iraq is an act of war.

Any armed, Direct action against/in Iraq territory is sufficient to justify retaliatory strikes under International Law.

When the Lebanese failed to rein in Hexbollah (lebanese citizens), and Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli Military personnel, Israel Attacked Lebanon. The attack was fully justified under International Law. Iranian military forces abducted 15 Brittish Military, who were legally in Iraqi territory.

The Brits should do a total blockade of the Iranian coast line, and shell all military targets within range of thier guns.

[bluestardad]

BULL ***** THIS EVENT WAS COVER FOR BUSH TO BUILD A CASE TO ATTACK IRAN PRIOR TO LEAVING OFFICE AS ISRAEL WANTS!

[tuckerndfw]

Upon which "international law" did the US & UK rely that authorized the invasion and occupation of Iraq? Or, "Iraqi waters."

Isn't it a bit ironic (or hypocritical) for the US & UK to now claim that they are protected by the same "international laws" that they have both so publicly rejected?

It the UK (& US) are so concerned about "international law," they should hand Blair (and Bush) over to the Hague so they can be tried under international laws.

[noaanhc]

The nations of the world should stop being a bunch of wimps and join forces and finally bomb Iran back to the stone age for that country has been the root cause of terrorism since 1979.
We ourselves should have done that in 1980 when Iran held our hostages,we should have firebombed their cities,completey destroyed their capacity to produced oil,just wiped out the whole country and then let that destruction be a warning to all.


YOU MESS WITH THE BEST,YOU DIE LIKE THE REST.

[superpat180]

BOMB IRAN NOW -

If you do that, the terrorists in Iraq will think twice, having no base to support them, and maybe the cowards and traitors of the MoveOn.Org Democratic Party will take note. They obviously haven't learned much from the betrayal of South East Asia or the cowardice of their beloved hero, the gutless wonder and Anti-Semite known as Jimmy Carter.

BOMB IRAN NOW.

Something that should have been done right after the Shah was forced out. But something that can be done before Pelosi and Reid's cowardice gives America a Nuclear 9/11.

[stjimmy5-2009]

What is it in some human beings that make them believe EVERYTHING that happens on the world stage is some sort of conspiracy? These folks must have some sort of genetic link.

[newsreader2]

These Iranians are clever dudes.

[navyretired2]

These Sailors were on a routine inspection of a suspected maritime smuggler. In case you didn't know, this happens ALL...THE...TIME.

And from what has come out about this incident to this point, they were in their rights as enforcers of trade rules/laws on the water. They inspected the suspected vessel, found it clear, and released it. This is not some evil plot by the Republican party, or Bush, or anybody else to stir up more tension with Iran.

You people need to get off the conspiracy stuff for EVERY article that's posted on here. Unless you TRULY believe that GW is single-handedly in control of every event on this planet, in which case, feel free to post from your rubber room.

What Iran did here is an act of war under some laws, even terrorism if you listen to what some of Iran's government is saying about using the Sailors as leverage to bargain for the release of some Iranians.

Some of you are so wrapped up in hating the current U.S. Government that you can't see when somebody ELSE does something wrong...only when the White House does (which they do often, don't get me wrong).

[radiob-2009]

Now that Iran has been proven wrong in front of the world, it is time to release all of the sailors.First by their own given coordinates of the sailors,and now by the British coordinates.

[rharrin1]

(which they do often, don't get me wrong).
Posted by NavyRetired2 at 09:10 AM : Mar 28, 2007

You answered it yourself for six years bush has given nothing but reasons to doubt him. His under handed way of doing things leaves everybody with suspicions.

[nothappyatall]

"And from what has come out about this incident to this point, they were in their rights as enforcers of trade rules/laws on the water. They inspected the suspected vessel, found it clear, and released it. This is not some evil plot by the Republican party, or Bush, or anybody else to stir up more tension with Iran."

Right, and given how Govts like ours and the Brits use such maneuvers to spy on other countries- FBI, CIA, KGB etc come to mind, and given Bush's lies and coverups who can blame any country for acting on the offensive FIRST when they see invading ships near their territory- we do the same kind of things with boat people from Cuba appearing in OUR waters- sending the coast guard to arrest and take into custody.

[nothappyatall]

Do some research into Tonkin Bay incident and see how a minor event or even a FALSE one has been used by the US Govt in the past to invade another country.

[spy_gyrl]

I'm not going to get into the rights or wrongs of what Bush has done during his presidential term. This isn't about him. It's about Iran trying to scam the world at the expense of 15 british troops. The co-ordinates have proven (if I read correctly) that the sailors were well within thier limits of the law. They were doing thier jobs and should not have been detained at all. I fully support the military demands that ALL of the sailors be released immediately. If Iran doesn't comply then that, to me, is a declaration of war and should be treated accordingly.

[crystalblue3]

Right on NavyRetired2...you're right on the mark about the endless conspiracy theories.

*applause*

[rohink-2009]

NavyRetired2,

I second the applause.........

[nolalou]

These kind of disputes happen all the time, yet most of you want to just bomb them back to the stone age. Havn't any of you ever heard of diplomacy? I'm not saying what Iran did is right, but if we just start dropping bombs on every country we have a disagreement with, when would it ever end? Thank god you idiots arn't in charge of our milliatry! You make G.W. sound like a frickin genius!

[gkc99]

You sure don't need to be a rocket scientist to guess that Bushit is looking for an excuse, a causus belli, to attack Iran. Anyone here think the government doesn't lie, like they did in Vietnam, like they did in the present war? And bushit's little terrier Tony Blair can surely arrange for his lackies to fudge a little bit of data like a position, when Bushit and company could "arrange the intelligence around the decision" for Iraq in the first place. Clearly we got some real prize a$$holes here in the US just looking for a chance to kill mostly innocent bystanders, civilians, with an unwarranted attack on Iran. The idea must give the creeps a real big thrill, they are so tough and bold from the front of their TV sets.

This Iranian monkey must be removed by any means. Covert or otherwise. An embarrassment to humaity, in the extreme. He makes even Bush look good, so maybe thats why they have kept him around!!

[navychief8]

What is it in some human beings that make them believe EVERYTHING that happens on the world stage is some sort of conspiracy? These folks must have some sort of genetic link.
Posted by stjimmy5

I'm not paranoid, but that doesn't mean their not out to get me! Ha ha ha......

I know what you talking about.

[oswaldoernesto]

If Tony Blair had the balls(i mean the guts)Margaret Thatcher has, the Royal Navy would be in Iran now as it was in The Falklands in 1.982

[navychief8]

These Sailors were on a routine inspection of a suspected maritime smuggler. In case you didn't know, this happens ALL...THE...TIME.
And from what has come out about this incident to this point, they were in their rights as enforcers of trade rules/laws on the water. They inspected the suspected vessel, found it clear, and released it. This is not some evil plot by the Republican party, or Bush, or anybody else to stir up more tension with Iran.

Posted by NavyRetired2

I've been on Navy boarding teams in the Gulf and have done more than 100 such boardings. They are routine.

[Syndicate]

I think if the Brittish threaten to bomb some stuff the Iranians will roll over and release all of them. The Iranians seem to like to play games. They will push to see how much they can get away with and then back down. I believe this is the second time Iran has siezed Brittish soilders in these water ways. Funny that they choose to sieze Brittish forces from Iraqi waters but are powerless to do anything about the American Special Forces operating in Iran. Perhaps some American war ships should be deployed to secure Iraqi waters.

[rsoxfan1123]

Perhaps some American war ships should be deployed to secure Iraqi waters.
Posted by cbscrash07

Perhaps America has enough problems as it is. The unilateral approach to diplomacy has been a disaster for Bush. Let the UN handle it; enough letting American kids be cheese for a mousetrap.

[fascistusa]

But what reason will America have for an Iran Invasion?? We need this False Flag to gain public support for another WAR.

WHAT??!! You someone other then the Poor to fight The Elite's WARS??

AMERICAN WARSHIPS ARE ALREADY IN IRAQ. DUH.

WE"RE READY FOR AN INVASION.

WELCOME TO FASCIST AMERICA.

[getcentered]

"At United Nations headquarters, CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk said Wednesday that the entire incident "appears to have been an intended distraction for Iran from the condemnation by the world powers at the U.N."


I'll agree. I don't think Iran wants to isolate themselves anymore. This is just a quick distraction. They could have picked up US personnel too, but they went for the UK, maybe because Iran knows the dwindling public support for British involvement there is causing a pullout. Iran knows the British won't overreact.

[stevex47]

I'm a die hard liberal Navychief,

But I'd send to the bottom, any Iranian vessel that ventures into Iraqi waters.

[cathaleen]

They know they f'd up. They're just postering right now and will soon let the marines go. But they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it. The British should sink at least one Iranian ship.

[marcodele]

Cowboy Bush will now have to invade Iran to defend the honor and integrity of his butt buddy Tony.

[rohink-2009]

Cowboy Bush will now have to invade Iran to defend the honor and integrity of his butt buddy Tony.
Posted by marcodele

You sound like a homophobe.

[rsoxfan1123]

If they're within a mile or so of Iraq/Iran either way I'd say that's cutting it pretty close with everything that is happening.

[radiob-2009]

The British should sink at least one Iranian ship.
Posted by cathaleen



That would be a act of war? Is that what you really want to see?The Iranians are playing a game and this should be resovled diplomatically.War is always a last resort.

[rohink-2009]

What Iran did was an act of war. The British have every right to respond.

[wolf563]

The BRITISH TROOPS were inspecting the ship on behalf of the UNITED NATIONS , NOT them selves . The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS part of the UNITED NATIONS and are not there on there own behalf . ANY INCIDENT that comes about from this situation is the responsability of the UNITED NATIONS . OTHER WISE IRAN would not be here today . CHINA and RUSSIA need to be more visable in this whole situation and send in some of THIER NAVY`S to show that the UNITED NATIONS truly work together hand in hand and not just on paper . It`s a good place in time to show the world and IRAN that the true goal is WORLD PEACE and not just about NUCLEAR ISSIUES .

[extremophil]

The British had better be careful, or the Iranians might strap a nuclear bomb to the back of a suicide camel and slap it's a$$.

[grazinggoat]

Copied from http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/northwoods.html

"We could sink a boatload of Cubans en route to Florida (real or simulated). . . . We could foster attempts on lives of Cuban refugees in the United States even to the extent of wounding in instances to be widely publicized."

-Before going Iraq on his own, Walking-Liar sent Clown Collin to pitch-lie the whole world in the
UnitedNation about proofs of Comics-type evidence of chemical-spreading jets, that revealed to be for veggies-pesticides spreaders.

Even my 12yrs son could set up a fake game showing those people inside Bagdad's green zone, and being rounded-up by Iranians.

[tbweb]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a big mouth, publicity seeking, power hungry, Head-Terrorist in-charge and a nut too! Almost everyone has this opinion of Ahmadinejad, including many Iranians, a religious extremist to the extreme! Ahmadinejad has Iranian citizens and Iranian cities on a path of destruction, a path that can very easily be avoided. Iran is not Iraq, the U.S. cannot defeat Iran in a ground war, the U.S. simply does not have the boots for the ground, but the U.S. is not Iraq either! And Iran thinks its ready for the U.S. based on its 8 year war with Iraq. The U.S. will be a nightmare for Iran in a stand-off war that Iran will wish never happened. The U.S. does not need to occupy Iran to degrade or defeat it!

[bigdadpatrio]

This (the Iranians capturing the British soldiers)was all staged by Bush in order to give him a reason to invade Iran.....anyone who thinks that is an idiot.

[pwrslm]

the one thing that will unite Iraq is another war against Iran

[pwrslm]

Upon which "international law" did the US & UK rely that authorized the invasion and occupation of Iraq? Or, "Iraqi waters."
Posted by tuckerndfw

Kuwait and Iraq were still at war. The Iraqi's signed a cease fire agreement. There was never a peace treaty. Iraq violated the cease fire agreement by not complying with UN Resolutions. Kuwait had every right under international law to recomense hostilities against Iraq, to include any and all allies that its could muster. The US and UK were Kuwaiti allies, and launched the primary attacks from Kuwaiti soil.

The Un violated its own neutrality when SC memeber, France, Russia, and other member states, to include Germany, breached the sanctions and aided Saddams regime to violate the food for oil program to circumvent UN sanctions.

UN=United Nothing.

[one_american]

Iran has miscalculated badly.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his regime's days are numbered.

Not that the U.S. is a threat...I think its far more likely Iran's own people will bring him and the corrupt mullahs down.

[adventurepa]

Let's hope the Iranian's come to there senses and free the hostages.

[perception5]

What's that black scarf doing on Turney's head? Where's the respect for cultures, Iran?......... and where is the United Nations human rights panel or what ever they call themselves?

[tbweb]

This means nothing and putting Royal Navy personnel on Iranian TV is an insult. The Royal Navy personnel should be released and back home in the UK. We won't know the truth of what they all really have to say until their safe and out of harms way on British soil. Not impressed Iran with your publicity stunt!

[perception5]

"Obviously we trespassed into their waters"

There you have it folks.
Nothing to see here...move on and let diplomacy prevail. Certainly not a cause for war.
Posted by jh6379 at 02:13 PM : Mar 28, 2007

.....jh6379, is there a reason why you always support the enemies of a America? ......very strange......I guess it's a liberal thing to do.

[DumbMacUser1]

CBS news and the rest of american and british jewrnalists are still trying to escalate this situation by starting another war between Iran and arabs. The Arvandrud waterway (called by it's arabic name "Shat al arab" in these articles) is NOT disputed. The 1975 Algiers accord hammered out the borders and the this situation started when the British (and americans) simply ignored the agreement between Iran and the Arabs and crossed into Iranian waters illegally.
It amazes me that these jewrnalists are still LYING about this and claiming that the Iranians "handed over both sides of the waterway" as part of the Algiers Accord of 1975.

CBS news (et al.) never cease to amaze me.

[inventagod]

I love the picture of the female sailor the Iranis are using... This sailor probably tears the lips off of newborns for fun, but they put a burka on her and parade her around all ladylike - delightful commentary on Iran's current leaders...