U.N. Calls On Iran To Free Britons

Security Council Expresses "Grave Concern" Over Capture Of British Sailors, Calls For Early Resolution

(CBS/AP)  "The important thing for us is to get them back safe and sound, but we can't enter into some basis of bargaining," Blair told ITV News. "What you have to do when you are engaged with people like the Iranian regime, you have to keep explaining to them, very patiently, what it is necessary to do and at the same time make them fully aware there are further measures that will be taken if they're not prepared to be reasonable."

"What you can't do is end up negotiating over hostages; end up saying there's some quid pro quo or tit for tat; that's not acceptable," he said.

Blair's office dismissed a suggestion by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki that Britain should resolve the crisis by admitting that its personnel had made a "mistake" and crossed into Iranian waters.

Mottaki had said Wednesday that Turney would be released within 48 hours. Britain said it was halting all discussion with Iran except negotiations to free the sailors, and expressed outrage over Iran's broadcast of images of the captives.

Top Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani said on Iranian state radio that "British leaders have miscalculated this issue."

If Britain follows through with its policies toward Iran, Larijani said "this case may face a legal path," a clear reference to Iran's prosecuting the sailors in court.

Blair's official spokesman said Britain wanted to resolve the crisis quickly and without having a "confrontation over this."

"We are not seeking to put Iran in a corner. We are simply saying, 'Please release the personnel who should not have been seized in the first place,"' said the spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

But in a briefing to reporters, the spokesman said British officials had been angered by Tehran's decision to show the captives on Iranian television.

"Nobody should be put in that position. It is an impossible position to be put in," he said. "It is wrong. It is wrong in terms of the usual conventions that cover this. It is wrong in terms of basic humanity."

Beckett said there were "grave concerns about the circumstances in which it was prepared and issued. This blatant attempt to use Leading Seaman Turney for propaganda purposes is outrageous and cruel."

In the video broadcast Wednesday on Iran's Arab-language satellite channel, Turney said her group had "trespassed" in Iranian waters. The segment showed her wearing a black head scarf, sitting in a room before floral curtains and smoking a cigarette.

"Obviously we trespassed into their waters," Turney said. "They were very friendly and very hospitable, very thoughtful, nice people. They explained to us why we've been arrested. There was no harm, no aggression."

In Thursday's video from Iran that was shown on Sky News, another letter apparently written by Turney called for withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.

The letter asked British lawmakers: "Isn't it time to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq and let them determine their own future?"

[gdod25]

Bush and Blair want war with Iran but due to lack of voter support need to antagonize Iran into a 'justifiable' scurmish. You brown shirts supporting Bush went to Publik Skools didnt you!

[henry6543]

So what if what you claim is true. The Iranians were well aware of what the British were doing. Why would they take such extreme measures in such a dramatic fashion. Could they not have approached the Brits in the water and warned them that if they were caught there again, they would be captured or even shot at.
No such tact on the part of the Iranians. All this has done is put the British Navy on alert and if Iran tries anything again they will be blown out of the water and a worse crisis will erupt.

Iran is pathetic, its government is pathetic, and its methods are pathetic. I have more respect for African Bushmen. They are way more diplomatic and honest.

[DumbMacUser1]

I noticed the borders that UK is showing for Iran/Iraq are fake - after looking at Iranian news, my suspicions came out to be quite true. The british are deliberately re-drawing the Iran-Iraq border on their own maps and they are convinced that the Arabs will support them in this because after all the borders are to the benifit of the arabs at the expense of Iranian territory. Story below:

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20/0703298425171510.htm

[DumbMacUser1]

I noticed the borders that UK is showing for Iran/Iraq are fake - after looking at Iranian news, my suspicions came out to be quite true. The british are deliberately re-drawing the Iran-Iraq border on their own maps and they are convinced that the Arabs will support them in this because after all the borders are to the benifit of the arabs at the expense of Iranian territory. Story below:

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20/0703298425171510.htm

[DumbMacUser1]

Iranian news - slanted but at least it's free of western Jewrnalism: http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20
/0703298425171510.htm

[henry6543]

Maybe it's because the UN wouldn't move its HQ to Mecca.

[henry6543]

Does anyone have any info on why AHMADINEJAD was not at the UN last week?

[henry6543]

Thanks for the response, tbweb I almost gave up hope.

I think that without Russia and China and the extremist muslims' support, Iran would be less emboldened.

But the real reason has more to do with desperation.

The Iranian people will think their govt is stronger after they capture Brits.

This takes their minds off the increasing day-to-day problems that aren't being helped by increasing sanctions and the threat of only more sanctions down the road.

This takes the focus off Iranian govt's inadequacies and shows that they have no fear of the west.

Gets a lot of media attention for them so they all feel like Islam is getting the attention it deserves.

Makes the west look weak.

Causes division in the UN.

[tuckerndfw]

If the intention is to secure the release of the "detainees," the UK will have to use ground forces.

Bombs and missiles are not particularly effective when it comes to "detainee" rescues.

I wonder how many Brits are at the recruiting offices signing up for the military so they can help rescue the "detainees"?

[tuckerndfw]

Iran is demonstrating the "Bush doctrine."

The "Bush doctrine" states that any nation (or anyone) can ignore the law if the law prevents him from doing whatever he wants.

It appears that Blair no longer supports the "Bush doctrine."

If the "Bush doctrine" is a (legally) valid doctrine, why hasn't the UK invaded Iran?

Why bother whining about "meaningless UN resolutions"?