Fifteen British Navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says.
The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.
The Royal Navy said it was doing everything it could to secure the release of its personnel, who are based on HMS Cornwall.
It added that the men had been carrying out a routine patrol in Iraqi waters.
The Ministry of Defence said: "The group boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters.
"We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level.
"The British government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment."
It is understood the men being held are safe and well.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has summoned the Iranian ambassador in London to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in an attempt to get the men released as quickly as possible.
In a statement, leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, also called for their immediate release.
"Whatever the rights and wrongs of military action, British forces in Iraq are now there with the authority of a UN security council resolution... and the Iranian government should be left in no doubt of the serious implications of their action," he said.
The incident comes as British Army Colonel Justin Masherevski, who is based in Iraq, says most of the violence against UK forces in Basra is being engineered by Iranian elements.
Col Masherevski said Iran was providing "sophisticated weaponry" to insurgents and "Iranian agents" were paying local men to attack British troops.
In 2004, Iran detained eight British servicemen for three days after they allegedly strayed over the maritime border.
The UK claimed the men were "forcibly escorted" into Iranian territorial waters.
While they were being held, the men were paraded blindfold and made to apologise on Iranian TV before their release was agreed.
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the difference this time, and a cause of concern, is that the present Iranian government under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was much more hardline.
"The political climate is worse with Britain among those confronting Iran over its controversial nuclear programme," he added.
they confessed to being in iranian waters, hence they were rightfully arrested. or do you westerners doubt the confessions?
There are no "confessions", just a report that an Iranian general said they made them. And yes, I "doubt" them; the British authorities would know precisely where they were.
and england go on and bomb iran, you think your so strong HA!
Nobody is going to bomb anybody. This whole incident is just an attempt to tweak the lion's tail, the lion in this case being the United States, and everyone concerned is perfectly well aware of the fact. The Iranians just don't have the nerve to take on the US directly as they tend to be rather less 'restrained', shall we say. The Brits they know they can talk to.
well quite frankly this is in direct retaliation of when the allied forces raided an Irani embassy in Iraq and arrested the diplomats. and furthermore they arent letting them go, which is against international laws that all diplomats have immunity.
So these soldiers being arrested is just a 'tit for tat' treatment
Why am I not surprised that Sami wants a war. That way he can issue more hate messages towards the West.
Well this old Western War Munger would like to see a peaceful resolution.
I think my brother is just pasSionate in describing the reaction of iran, if a war is started. So i dont think he realy wants war. Come on guys this isnt enough 4 war.
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
The U.S. isn't going to react violently against Iran over British hostages unless the hostages are killed or otherwise not returned home, in which case the British will take the lead no doubt.
I also see people calling Bush and Blair "warmongers", which is fine if that is your opinion, but the Iranian president hasn't exactly been a force for peaceful resolution either. I see this coming to a confrontation, I just hope it stays on the diplomatic front.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
with the support for the war vanishing
the power being taken out from under bushes feet
and their grand plan to 'rebuild iraq' and thus fueling the american economy failing
they arent going to take the risk really
plus the thing about iran is its not a rag tag nation like iraq (with no arms or ammunition)
plus by attacking Iran they risk China getting involved since their border is right next door
and im sure china isnt going to sit by letting planes fly over their airspace or their borders being bombed
plus by attacking Iran they risk China getting involved since their border is right next door
and im sure china isnt going to sit by letting planes fly over their airspace or their borders being bombed
Erm.. I don't think that would be an issue. I suspect even the American military's knowledge of geography is rather better than yours!
Seems where this might be where the claim the troops were in Iranian territorial waters came from;
However, Professor Sadaq Ziba-Kalam, of Tehran University, told BBC News 24 he did not think they would be charged with spying. "That part of the water between Iran and Iraq where the incident happened has been disputed for decades," he said. "So it is very difficult to draw the line and say this is the Iranian side of the border and this is the Iraqi side of the border."
i.e. the Iranian perception of where their territorial waters end is rather different than everybody else's.
Erm.. I don't think that would be an issue. I suspect even the American military's knowledge of geography is rather better than yours!
They might know where the borders are but they can't accurately hit the broadside of a barn. (Just ask all the Canadian and British soldiers "accidently" killed by "friendly" fire at the hands of the American geography specialists).
I doubt China is going to accept "oopsy" as a valid excuse should yet another American bomb miss its intended target and land anywhere near their border.
"Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good" (Sahîh Muslim, Sunan Abî Dawûd)
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched...but are felt in the heart.
-Helen Keller
Why do you think about war for this situation? Violance does not solve the problem for this kind of hostage crisis. This kind of problem can be solve in a diplomatic ways.
They might know where the borders are but they can't accurately hit the broadside of a barn. (Just ask all the Canadian and British soldiers "accidently" killed by "friendly" fire at the hands of the American geography specialists).
I doubt China is going to accept "oopsy" as a valid excuse should yet another American bomb miss its intended target and land anywhere near their border.
Has anybody taken the trouble to look at an atlas?
Iran is nowhere near China. Indeed, both the whole of Afghanistan and the Himalayas are between the two.
format_quote Originally Posted by Hashim_507
Why do you think about war for this situation? Violance does not solve the problem for this kind of hostage crisis. This kind of problem can be solve in a diplomatic ways.
I don't think war is an option; it wouldn't achieve anything. The only reason the troops allowed themselves to be "arrested" in the first place was that their orders were to go 'softly, softly' in the event of such an incident in order to prevent something that might spiral out of control. It's just a shame the Iranians can't behave as responsibly.
The worry I have is that the rules of engagement will now be changed to prevent a repeat of such a stunt. When the next suspected smuggler is inspected in the Gulf there will be full air support throughout, and any Iranian craft coming within five miles is likely to get warned off, then if necessary blown out of the water. Then things could get unpleasant.
I believe the real story behind this crisis is not been reported by the media. Iran has every right to protect its harbor from danger. Most media demonize Iran as a monster. This is a political drama; for bush and its allies. Bush will make move to demonize Iran and justifie a war.
Iran has every right to protect its harbor from danger.
It does, but that is totally irrelevant to this situation. Exactly how was it's 'harbor' supposed to be in 'danger' from fourteen guys and a gal in a couple of small boats in the middle of the Gulf? They were inspecting a ship suspected of smuggling.
Bush will make move to demonize Iran and justifie a war.
If the Iranians keep acting as irresponsibly as they are here, Bush won't need to bother. Iran is doing a nice job of demonizing itself.
The Iranians keep changing their stories.. They're blatantly making things up. It is clearly provocation for war. I'm not talking about land invasion like Iraq because I don't think it will be an Iraqi-style war. The attacks will come from the skies. They're building nuclear reactors which they cannot be trusted with especially with their threats towards Israel. They are handing their weapons and arms to Iraqi militias, they're paying them to attack British and US troops.
Now this...
They're taunting...
"Afisherman on the Shatt al-Arab who witnessed the incident said the British had definitely been in Iraqi waters."
They're building nuclear reactors which they cannot be trusted with especially with their threats towards Israel. They are handing their weapons and arms to Iraqi militias, they're paying them to attack British and US troops.
They're taunting...
Of course they are, but simply because it's all they can do. Their nuclear ambitions are completely stalled now the Russians won't play ball... how long that will stay the case remains to be seen, but the continual refusal to comply with the Security Council resolution is hardly likely to endear them to Moscow. And they have been caught with their trousers down in Iraq providing weapons to and supporting Shi'a militia groups.
That's why it's not worth getting too steamed up about at present, it's really just a temper tantram they need to get out of their system.
Iran are a bunch of idiots, the UK has every right to bomb Iran.
Yes lets eh...
US. Have Iranians lets bomb US too? I'd love to see that. - Why should they release them, when we and us are playing games with iran. It's tit-for-tat. And I hope iran stand by what they are doing. It's named the Persian Gulf for a reason. - You go spying, you get caught!
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
with the support for the war vanishing
the power being taken out from under bushes feet
and their grand plan to 'rebuild iraq' and thus fueling the american economy failing
they arent going to take the risk really
plus the thing about iran is its not a rag tag nation like iraq (with no arms or ammunition)
plus by attacking Iran they risk China getting involved since their border is right next door
and im sure china isnt going to sit by letting planes fly over their airspace or their borders being bombed
I think Russia would join in too. China, Russia against the US. Yes I like that idea too.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Of course they are, but simply because it's all they can do. Their nuclear ambitions are completely stalled now the Russians won't play ball... how long that will stay the case remains to be seen, but the continual refusal to comply with the Security Council resolution is hardly likely to endear them to Moscow. And they have been caught with their trousers down in Iraq providing weapons to and supporting Shi'a militia groups.
.
Why is that a shock? No different from US funding the taliban against russia years ago. I'm glad Iran is tormenting the west, because I hate nothing more than big bullies. Let US back down first.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Well, go bomb them. I'm sure we can appreciate every little bit of peace UK can offer the world. Like what the US is doing right now in Iraq. I'd enjoy so much peace in Iraq that I'm packing my stuff right now to migrate there and live in the middle of the peaceful warzone!!
I find if very amusing that many nationalists living in America and England and a whole lot of other countries are willing to believe the reports of their own government, where as once the Iranian government makes reports, you claim them false.
Get it through your heads people, all governments lie.
Remember when U.S invaded Iraq on a claim that there were weapons of mass destruction? well a whole lot of truth that was. England supported them too if I remember correctly. Anyway that's besides the point.
It is your nationalistic attitudes that prevent you from hearing the truth.
One other thing about their nuclear program, I find it very hypocritical that U.S and England [among others] do not want Iran to build nuclear weapons when both those countries itself have these missiles for protection. And yes I realize that it has made threats against Israel but do they not have a right to defend their fellow muslims just like Americans and the English want to defend their fellow keen[Israelis] against palestinians?
You people[North american nationalists] justify your arguments by saying its for peace efforts, when the very thing you are doing is for your own benefits and not for others.
This situation of the soldiers being found in Iranian waters is very unstable, but they must have a reason for it. Plus, have you ever thought that there are also Muslims in England that are taken into custody for crimes they have not commited, yet you don't find the muslims' home countries dropping bombs on England do you?
Just because England has nuclear power, they've become arrogant.
This scenario is very much similar to a school playground, where America and England are the school bullies and trying to rule the playground by stripping every other nation of their ammunition so as to not make them prospective enemies.
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Deploy troops in Iran...! (OP)
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Bookmarks