Breakthrough In Britain-Iran Standoff?
CBS' David Martin: Countries Have Exchanged Documents Outlining Terms Of A Deal
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Hostage Crisis Breakthrough
There is a possible breakthrough in the standoff between Iran and Britain over 15 captured sailors. A deal between the two countries may be on the table. David Martin reports.
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Hope For British Hostages
British PM Tony Blair says the next two days will be critical in resolving the hostage crisis with Iran. Charlie D'Agata reports that quiet diplomacy is taking the place of tough talk.
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More Confessions From Iran
All 15 captured U.K. sailors and marines confessed to trespassing into Iran's waters, but officials in the Islamic Republic say they will not be put on trial. David Martin reports from the Pentagon.
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An image taken from an Iranian state TV broadcast on April 1, 2007, shows captured British sailor Lt. Felix Carmen in front of a nautical map of the Persian Gulf. (CBS/Iranian TV)
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A photo released by Iranian news agency Fars on April 3, 2007, apparently taken from a video, shows detained British sailors. (CBS/Fars)
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(CBS/Al-Alam)
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An Iranian man chants slogan as police officers prevent protestors from entering the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, April 1, 2007, during a protest calling for the expulsion of the British ambassador because of the standoff over Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines. (AP)
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Iranian police officers scuffle with protestors as they try to prevent them from entering the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, April 1, 2007. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Great Britain and Iran have exchanged diplomatic documents outlining the terms of the deal, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. In return for the release of the sailors and marines, the British government would say it regrets the incident and will make sure it doesn’t happen again, but would not admit its personnel violated Iranian waters.
In a statement late Tuesday, Prime Minister Blair's Downing Street office said "both sides share a desire for an early resolution to this issue through direct talks."
"The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means. The U.K. has proposed direct bilateral discussions and awaits an Iranian response on when these can begin," Blair's office said.
But Britain's foreign minister cautioned against assuming the standoff will end quickly, and U.S. officials warn that hardliners in the Iranian government could still undo the deal, adds Martin.
Earlier, Iranian diplomat Jalal Sharafi arrived in Tehran, hours after he was freed by his captors in Iraq, officials said. He was seized Feb. 4 by uniformed gunmen in Karradah, a Shiite-controlled district of Baghdad.
Iran alleged the diplomat had been abducted by an Iraqi military unit commanded by U.S. forces, a charge repeated by several Iraqi Shiite lawmakers. U.S. authorities denied any role in his disappearance.
In Baghdad, an Iraqi Foreign Ministry official said the Iraqi government had exerted pressure on those holding Sharafi to release him, but he would not identify who had held Sharafi.
But another senior government official said Iraqi intelligence had been holding him. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to release the information.
Sharafi was a second secretary at the Iranian Embassy who was involved in plans to open a branch of the Iranian national bank. U.S. officials allege that Iran provides money and weapons to Iraqi Shiite militias.
Sharafi was abducted a month after the U.S. military arrested five other Iranians in northern Iraq. The U.S. described one of those captives as a senior officer of the Quds Force, an elite unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry official said his government also was working "intensively" for the release of the five other Iranians to "help in the release of the British sailors and marines."
Iranian state media reported Wednesday that an Iranian envoy will be allowed to meet the five Iranians.
There was no immediate confirmation of the report in Baghdad, where neither Iraqi government nor a U.S. military spokesman said they knew that permission had been granted for such a meeting.
“A representative from the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad will meet” the detained Iranians, the official Islamic Republic News Agency said.
Neither Iran nor Iraq nor Britain has said explicitly that a prisoner swap was in the works. Iran has denied it seized the Britons to force the release of Iranians held in Iraq, and Britain has steadfastly insisted it would not negotiate for the sailors' freedom.
In Washington, President Bush signaled the same. "I also strongly support the prime minister's declaration that there should be no quid pro quos when it comes to the hostages," Bush said.
It was unclear whether the Iraqis had won Sharafi's freedom on their own initiative to encourage a settlement, which would ease tension without endangering their own claim to the waters where it occurred.
Nevertheless, the release of Sharafi and efforts to free the five other Iranians suggested that the parameters of a deal might be taking shape.
Iran maintains the British sailors had encroached on Iranian territory when they were seized by naval units of the Revolutionary Guards on March 23. Britain insists its sailors and marines were in Iraqi waters and has demanded their unconditional release.
Blair said earlier in the day that the next 48 hours would be "fairly critical" to resolving the standoff over the British personnel, who have been held by Iran since March 23.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 161 CommentsWhy are two days "critical"?
According to the "Bush doctrine," "detainees" can be held forever.
At least the "detainees" aren't being murdered, tortured, raped or otherwise humiliated, as they would be if they were being detained by the US or UK.
Blair is as corrupt as George Bush.
GPS signals can be changed, and considering that Iran gave one possition at first, and then a second two days later, to imply that these solders in fact were in Iranian territory, demonstrates the lengths these religious zealots will go to achieve a percieved "moral" superiority, even at the expense of a lie.
A lie to an infidel is of no consequence as long as it serves to benefit Islam.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/exclusive_iran_.html
Detainees have no legal rights.
If the "Bush doctrine" is valid for the US & UK, it is valid for all, including Iran.
Blair is as corrupt as George Bush.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 07:32 AM : Apr 03, 2007
Is it the small mindedness or the lack of intelligence that keeps people from knowing the truth?
There is no doubt that trecherous behavior is rampant in the world these days, it lies in the hearts and minds of the weak, the unwilling, and the uneducated. They are manipulated by forces beyond thier understanding to defend the goals of Satan.
No Tucker, America has no policy to murder, torture, or rape its prisoners. We will humiliate them though, for some reason those who are soft in the brain think its wrong if we dont entitle prisoners with stays at the Hilton as long as we detain them.
But his fudge packing little buddy from England will
Watch this little s.h.i.t give Bush a reason to attack Iran
And all this just to follow a delusional fool promising paradise while he walks in circles with nowhere to go.
Posted by mocaleo at 07:38 AM : Apr 03, 2007
So, its ok for the tyrant to kidnap and extort and humiliate whoever they want? What a set of brass balls you got buster.
Or, maybe they are more like butter, real men stand up for thier rights, and for whats right, unlike your display of cowardice and treason.
Posted by pwrslm at 07:38 AM : Apr 03, 2007
You are incorrect.
Ted Olson, the former US Solicitor General, argued, on behalf of the Bush administration, to the US Supreme Court that George Bush has the legal authority to order people "boiled in oil" (US Supreme Court's words, not mine).
Presumably, the authority to order people "boiled in oil" would also include lesser authority, such as ordering rape.
The US may not have a written policy explicitly authorizing "boiling in oil," but the Bush administration formally argued they have the authority to do so.
You are clearly ignorant, the reason is irrelevant.
You are clearly ignorant, the reason is irrelevant.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 07:49 AM : Apr 03, 2007
What a cheesy reply.
The only thing you are proving is your own personnal ignorance, nothing more, nothing less. In one post, you proved beyond any doubt that your truely are a clueless fool.
Posted by pwrslm at 07:42 AM : Apr 03, 2007
You have described all Bush supporters, including yourself.
According to the "Bush doctrine," no one has any rights other than what George Bush decides to grant them.
Bush supporters surrendered their rights and would presumably surrender everyone else's, as well.
Cowardice is the most common trait displayed by all Bush supporters, followed closely by treason, hysteria, hatred, bigotry and ignorance.
Posted by drinuk at 07:51 AM : Apr 03, 2007
Think about this. If "Global Warming" is true, then think about the positive affects would have on the world:
1. There would be more land with moderate climate for all those people who are "overpopulating" the earth to live on. (Overpopulation problem solved)
2. There would be more fresh water available for irrigating desert lands. (Food Shortage solved)
3. More arable land to grow crops. (Food Shortage solved)
4. Milder winters. (Heat fuel shortage solved)
5. Milder winters. (Less sickness)
6. More Ultra Violet rays getting to earth. (UV kills bacteria)
7. Longer summers, longer tourist seasons. (More national income)
If the Humanists really believed the world was getting warmer, they would be telling us not to be alarmed because "Man will rise to the occasion!" Instead, they huddle in the corner like terrified mice. Why? Because they want Americans to huddle in the corner like terrified mice so they can gain more power over us. Humanists hate America.
According to the "Bush doctrine," no one has any rights other than what George Bush decides to grant them.
Posted by tuckerndfw
Do you make this stuff up or was it drilled into your pea brain by others who came before you?
Careful now, this is a trick question if you didnt notice.
(Your about as useless as the KKK, Nazi and white supremacists groups that you parrot.) Now, go hug a tree somewhere and tell yo mama how mean I am.
Here we go again, how soon we forget,2003 this administration says Iraq, Saddam, has WMD'S, NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Of course this was based on BOGUS information the Bush administration new was highly questionable. Now, over 3,250 American kids killed in Iraq, and no end in sight. We fast forward to IRAN.
"IRAN, NUKE POSSIBLE BY 2009." We can only assume that the B&B boys will use this as a launching pad for reasons to invade Iran.
Typical cowardly, ignorant Bush supporters.
The kidnapped Iranian diplomat has just been released:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6522113.stm
Of course, the US & UK deny they know anything about it.
Now, if the US will release the five other Iranian diplomats kidnapped by US forces, maybe Iran will release the detainees they are holding.
http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/pdf/research/mep/BPisraeliran.pdf
That is easier said than done......for there are still those "rubber stamp" REPUBs, who want to "sink into oblivion as their DECIDER leaves office in '09", and they refuse to see THEIR fate. They are really the holders of power these days, not their DECIDER. They could change the future for all of us, and bring back supporters to the Republican party before it is too late. Think about it, REPUBS!
It may not be Global Warming which gets our attention. It will most likely be the technology created. (Rice, with 15% human proteins) now approved for production to produce pharmaceutials. It is supposed to be under very strict control, but how will they keep birds, rodents, or people from spreading it into our food chain?) Is this why a complete stockpile of all seed varieties are being stored in the frozen artic region?
Glad you are finally seeing the light about your traitor and Bush-bashing, American hating friends here, including Tucker rhymes with F. Sorry that it took the seizing of 15 Brit Marines to do this.
As for the Iranian "diplomats" - read: terrorists held in Iraq, I would repatriate them. In coffins. And let Ahmedinejedad and the populace of Tehran know that they will be next.
As for the Bush-bashers, Never mind that the Islamonazis in Iran and elsewhere have sworn to kill you. You will grovel as usual, blame Bush, or better yet blame dem Jooz - and kiss Pelosi's wrinkled a$$. Like Tucker rhymes with F, you're probably a bunch of Nazi atheists anyway.
So what are you doing in the USA? Leave, and express your freedom in Iran. That is, if you can or have the guts to, which Left Nazi cowards and traitors usually don't.
But I daresay you'd be much more happier in Iran.
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Coastal cities will flood and either people will have to build levies like N.Orleans (we saw how well those work) or move and abandon large areas of coastal land.
Climate changes mean the crops that currently grow and grow where the do now may no longer grow or may not grow in areas that are suitable FOR them due to cities poor soils etc- you cant grow crops in the rockey Nevada desert for example.
Warmer temps mean bacteria, virus, fungus and especially insects will flourish. The honey bees are vanishing right now in huge numbers.
Krill which penguins eat are greatly reduced in numbers because they live under the ice and the ice is melting, polar bears are also reducing in numbers due to the ice melt.
More UV results in more skin cancers...
Milder winters-we are talking about a couple of degrees not going from -20 to 50, more like -20 to -18 with wierd 120 degree days in the summer for a week or more, blizzards in May, LOTS more rain, LOTS more snow etc
While you may not care about polar bears or bees, they are a sign of what's happening and what's to come and it's happening RAPIDLY, too fast for transitions.
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Maybe I'm missing something, but why is this discusion of Global Warming on this thread, dealing with the British hostages in Iran?
nolalou
P.S. mocalleo, you're right you are stupid.. now go away!
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Iran has grown steadily stronger due to the Iraq fiasco, and now it is in the position to make both these idiots eat crow publically (never a good thing) and I can't even feel sorry for them.
The worse part of all this is that Bush and Blair were led down this path by a bunch of neocon crazies, who have jumped ship and are now blaming the whole mess on them.
This is going to go down in the history books as the absolute worse foreign policy adventure the US and Britan ever tried and it can only be hoped that the idea of preempitive war has been ditched FOREVER as a foreign policy.
God, what a mess!
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