Iran Watch: Britain Seeks Iran Condemnation from the United Nations

****Update****

Blair: Britain Won’t Negotiate With Iran

Prime Minister Tony Blair said Thursday that Britain would not negotiate over British sailors and marines held hostage by Iran. In an interview with ITV News, Blair again called for the unconditional return of the 15 Royal Navy personnel who were seized by Iranian authorities last week.

Britain’s Sky News meanwhile said Iran had released another letter by captured sailor Faye Turney, this time calling for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

“The important thing for us is to get them back safe and sound, but we can’t enter into some basis of bargaining,” Blair said. “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.

Ok, now what?

The United Nations won’t act quickly or at all.

Who will blink first?

Map locating the area in the Gulf where Britain says its 15 sailors were captured by Iran last week. Britain has taken its escalating crisis with Iran over 15 captured sailors to the UN Security Council, as Tehran said it would not release the only woman among the detainees.

USA Today: Iran halts female sailor’s release as Britain seeks U.N. condemnation

Britain said Thursday that it would seek United Nations condemnation of Iran for taking its 15 Royal Navy crewmembers last week, as the dispute over the fate of the crew grew.

Iran, however, said Britain had mishandled the situation and said it would not release Britain’s lone female crewmember as it said it would because it was increasing international pressure.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Ali Larijani, chastised Britain for having “an incorrect attitude” and warned that release of any of the captives may not be imminent.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that the promised release of sailor Faye Turney would be suspended. And Larijani, head of Iran’s supreme national security council, hinted on Iranian state radio that the crew could be put on trial, saying, “This case may face a legal path.”

And does Britain really think they will get any relief in the United Nations Security Council? Britain and the rest of the EU have been feckless with regards to Iran’s nuclear program so why should Iran change its behavior in this case?