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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran to Announce More Uranium Enrichment Centrifuges?
A file photo of the nuclear plant in the southwestern Iranian city of Bushehr June 22, 2005. Iran said on Sunday it would not discuss its ‘obvious right’ to master the nuclear fuel cycle but was open to talks that could reassure the West that its atomic plans were not aimed at producing bombs.
Iran set to announce nuclear plans on Monday
Iran’s president has promised to disclose news about Iran’s nuclear program when he visits its uranium enrichment facility on Monday where the West says Iran is mastering the skills needed to make atomic bombs.
Iran has rejected U.N. demands to halt enrichment, a process than can make power plant fuel or material for warheads, and has instead vowed to expand what it insists is peaceful atomic work.
Diplomats speculate President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could announce that Iran has installed more centrifuges, the machines used in the enrichment process, at the Natanz facility in central Iran. But Iranian officials have been tightlipped.
“If you wait 24 hours, you will all find out,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told a Sunday news conference when asked what the president would announce.
Journalists will accompany the president with senior officials from Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization to the site about 200 km (125 miles) south of Tehran.
Ahmadinejad, who said in February he would announce “great” nuclear achievements in the days to April 9, is expected to hold a news conference.
Sunday’s Jam-e Jam newspaper wrote: “The installation and start up of 3,000 centrifuges and the injection of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas will be announced by the president.”
UF6 gas is fed into centrifuges as feedstock.
Iran, the world’s fourth largest oil exporter which says it wants a network of nuclear power plants, runs 350 experimental centrifuges at an above ground pilot facility at Natanz.
The United States and Israel will now have to decide whether they wish Iran to possess nuclear weapons or not.
The “NUCLEAR POINT OF NO RETURN” has been reached.
The American aircraft carrier groups are in the region and Iran has ignored the United Nations.
It is time to shit or get off the pot.
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Have Nuclear Bomb by 2009
Iran Nuclear Watch: United Nations Security Council Approves New Iran Sanctions
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Delivers Ultimatum to Iran Over Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Faces Off With United Nations
Iran Nuclear Watch: New Iran Nuclear Sanctions Headed to United Nations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Postpones Nuclear Plant Launch Over Payments
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – Iran Won’t End Nuke Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: IAEA – Iran Has Expanded Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Refuses to Halt United Nations Demand to Halt Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Attack Plans Revealed
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will NOT Suspend Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Too Late to Halt Iran’s Nuclear Bomb?
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Ahmadinejad
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Iran Watch: Iran-UK Hostages Reunited with Family
Leading Seaman Faye Turney shares a joke at Heathrow
Hostages reunited with family after 14-day ordeal
After 13 days of fear and worry, the 15 British sailors and marines held captive in Iran were finally reunited with their families today.
The 14 men and one woman arrived by Sea King helicopter at Royal Marines Base Chivenor, near Barnstaple, north Devon, shortly before 2.30pm.
They filed out onto the grass in front of the officer’s mess in brilliant sunshine to be greeted by naval officials.
As they gathered on the concrete terrace, the faces of family and friends were pressed against windows before they were allowed to greet them. Hugs were exchanged.
The sailors and marines had earlier touched down at Heathrow airport after a seven hour flight from Iran. The aircraft landed shortly after midday in brilliant sunshine and taxied to the VIP section of the runway.
Passengers on the flight from Tehran said a round of applause was heard from Business Class when the plane touched down.
Prime Minister Tony Blair today said he had ‘rejoiced’ at the return of the service personnel and that there have been new and interesting lines of communication opened with Iran. He added the international community must remain steadfast in dealings with Iran.
Mr Blair says people have not been taken in by the “theatre” in Iran and there are no “agreements” between Iranian elements held in Iraq and released crew. He said Britain managed to secure release of crew without any deal or negotiations.
Oh really!
No deal huh……..
Here is a timeline of the two weeks British humiliation:
Then, why did Ahamdinejad and the Mullahs release your hostages, Mr. Blair?
Was it this?
The USS Nimitz and its carrier strike group had been ordered by President Bush to the Persian Gulf to supplement the USS Dwight David Eisenhower and USS John C. Stennis who are already in theater.
Flap figures that the Mullahs decided they had milked this story and humiliated the Brits enough to the Arab Street so why not get out “quick and dirty” without any reprisals. How humiliating to the British Empire to be given an Easter gift from the Iranian Mullahs – a return of their own captured sailors/marines.
Flap had mentioned a number of weeks ago to watch for a provocation by either Iran or the West over the Iranian nuclear program. Obviously, the West did not bite.
The question is why?
Video grab shows Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking to Britons who had been detained in Iran at a ceremony to mark their release, April 4, 2007.
So, what comes next?
Another provocation? Against an American ship?
Perhaps.
Iran has probed the Brits and found them WEAK. Will they test the Great Satan and the Great Cowboy Bush?
Probably and then let the war begin………
Freed British sailors wait at the republic pavillion of Mehrabad airport on 05 April 2007.
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
Iran Watch: Iran-UK Hostage Crisis Day 12
Iran Watch: Iranian TV Shows New Video of Captured British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran Protesters Target British Embassy
Iran Watch: Feckless Brits Seek Deal With Iran
Iran Watch: British Sailors May Be Tried By Iran
Iran Watch: Iran Releases Video and Letter of Captured British Hostages
Iran Watch: Britain Seeks Iran Condemnation from the United Nations
Iran Watch: Britain Must FIRST Admit “MISTAKEâ€
Iran Watch: Iran Parades Brit Hostages on TV
Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran
Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?
Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?
Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran
Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance
Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters
Technorati Tags: Iran, Iraq, Britain, UnitedKingdomYahyaRahimSafaviTonyBlairManouchehrMottakiMahmoudAhmadinejad
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Iran Watch: Iran-UK Hostage Crisis Day 12
AP: Britain calls for direct talks with Iran
Britain called for direct talks with Iran over 15 captive Britons Tuesday after speaking for the first time with the chief Iranian negotiator. The announcement followed the sudden release of an Iranian diplomat in Iraq that raised new hope in resolving the standoff.
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.”
Hours after Foreign Secretary Margaret cautioned against expecting a swift resolution to the crisis, Downing Street struck an upbeat note, announcing there had been “further contacts” between the two countries, including with chief negotiator Ali Larijani.
“The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means. The UK has proposed direct bilateral discussions and awaits an Iranian response on when these can begin,” Blair’s office said.
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.
His release also suggests the standoff over the captive Britons may end with a de facto prisoner swap — something both Tehran and London have publicly discounted.
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.
Has the sun finally set on the British Empire with a feckless Tony Blair? Flap cannot imagine a “COLD WAR” prisoner abduction/trade ever being so mishandled by Maggie Thatcher. And the Brits then were dealing with the Soviets!
If Britain is going to negotiate with these terrorists then at least do it quickly and out of sight so your own people can’t see how WEAK you really are.
Shameful…….
This picture, apparently a still taken from a video, showed six sailors sitting in blue and red tracksuits on a carpet in a room with what appears to be a little bowl of nuts standing in the middle of the group.
Previous:
Iran Watch: Iranian TV Shows New Video of Captured British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran Protesters Target British Embassy
Iran Watch: Feckless Brits Seek Deal With Iran
Iran Watch: British Sailors May Be Tried By Iran
Iran Watch: Iran Releases Video and Letter of Captured British Hostages
Iran Watch: Britain Seeks Iran Condemnation from the United Nations
Iran Watch: Britain Must FIRST Admit “MISTAKEâ€
Iran Watch: Iran Parades Brit Hostages on TV
Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran
Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?
Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?
Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran
Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance
Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters
Technorati Tags: Iran, Iraq, Britain, UnitedKingdomYahyaRahimSafaviTonyBlairManouchehrMottakiMahmoudAhmadinejad
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Have Nuclear Bomb by 2009
A technician works in the control room at the uranium conversion facility in Isfahan, 450 km south of Tehran, February 3, 2007. Russia’s leading nuclear scientist said on Monday that it was just a question of time before Iran developed a nuclear weapon and it should be stopped.
ABC News: Iran Nuclear Bomb Could Be Possible by 2009
Iran has more than tripled its ability to produce enriched uranium in the last three months, adding some 1,000 centrifuges which are used to separate radioactive particles from the raw material.
The development means Iran could have enough material for a nuclear bomb by 2009, sources familiar with the dramatic upgrade tell ABC News.
The sources say the unexpected expansion is taking place at Iran’s nuclear enrichment plant outside the city of Natanz, in a hardened facility 70 feet underground.
And this is a surprise?
Last year Israeli Defense estimates said that Iran’s development of a nuclear bomb was imminent – within a year or so.
Why in the hell do you think they have been stalling with meaningless negotiations at the United Nations and G-8?
In the meantime, a Russian scientist has expressed concern:
Reuters: Russian expert says Iran can make nuclear weapons
Russia’s leading nuclear scientist said on Monday that it was just a question of time before Iran developed a nuclear weapon and it should be stopped.
The Islamic republic, facing a showdown with the United States over its nuclear ambitions, clearly has the know-how to make atomic weapons, said Yevgeny Velikhov, a leading physicist and close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“From a scientific point of view of course they could create nuclear weapons,” Velikhov, president of Russia’s Kurchatov Institute, told reporters. “When they could do it is a more difficult question.”
“If you remember, U.S. scientists expected the Soviet Union would only be able to create a nuclear bomb by around 1954 at the earliest,” he said.
“They were rather surprised when we created one in 1949,” he said with a chuckle. Velikhov trained under Igor Kurchatov, the leader of the Soviet atomic bomb project.
The “NUCLEAR POINT OF NO RETURN” has been reached with Iran.
Will the United States and Israel do anything about it?
Stay tuned as the USS Nimitz sets sail from Malaysia – destination, the Persian Gulf.
A technician at the uranium conversion facility in Isfahan, south of Tehran, February 3, 2007. The IAEA is pushing Iran to agree to cameras in its underground nuclear plant within days and Western states are mulling whether to seek a crisis IAEA meeting if Tehran refuses, diplomats said.
Previous:Iran Nuclear Watch: United Nations Security Council Approves New Iran Sanctions
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Delivers Ultimatum to Iran Over Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Faces Off With United Nations
Iran Nuclear Watch: New Iran Nuclear Sanctions Headed to United Nations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Postpones Nuclear Plant Launch Over Payments
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – Iran Won’t End Nuke Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: IAEA – Iran Has Expanded Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Refuses to Halt United Nations Demand to Halt Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Attack Plans Revealed
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will NOT Suspend Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Too Late to Halt Iran’s Nuclear Bomb?
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Ahmadinejad
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Iran Watch: Iran Protesters Target British Embassy
****Update****
Iran’s Arabic satellite channel says it will soon air “confessions” from two of the fifteen captured British Sailors.
An Iranian clergyman throws a rock at the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 1, 2007, during a protest calling for the expulsion of the country’s ambassador because of the standoff over Iran’s capture of 15 British sailors and marines.
AP: Protest in Iran targets British Embassy
About 200 students threw rocks and firecrackers at the British Embassy on Sunday, calling for the expulsion of the country’s ambassador because of the standoff over
Iran’s capture of 15 British sailors and marines.Several dozen policemen prevented the protesters from entering the embassy compound, although a few briefly scaled a fence outside the compound’s walls before being pushed back, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.
The protesters chanted “Death to Britain” and “Death to America” as they hurled stones into the courtyard of the embassy. They also demanded that the Iranian government expel the British ambassador and close down the embassy, calling it a “den of spies.”
And Britain is doing what?
Iranian hardline students throw stones at the British embassy in Tehran. Islamist students threw rocks and firecrackers at Britain’s embassy in Tehran on Sunday after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad slammed “arrogant” Britain over Iran’s seizure of 15 British sailors.
An Iranian man chants slogan as police officers prevent protestors from entering the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 1, 2007.
Britain is attempting to talk to Iran.
Defense Secretary Des Browne said Britain was in “direct, bilateral communication with the Iranians.” A Ministry of Defense spokeswoman said Browne was referring to letters and other contacts between diplomats, rather than any new face-to-face talks.
Browne, on a visit to
Afghanistan, said Britain had “the support of almost the whole international community” in calling for the release of its personnel, who were seized by Iran 10 days ago.WOW, the support of almost the entire interrnational community. And this has stopped Iran from enriching uranium as well.
The Brits are WEAK and must bow down to the great Iran.
Maybe giving the Mullahs a couple of nukes will be the ticket to release the hostages……
Iranian riot police prevent hardline students from approaching the British embassy in Tehran.
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
Iran Watch: Feckless Brits Seek Deal With Iran
Iran Watch: British Sailors May Be Tried By Iran
Iran Watch: Iran Releases Video and Letter of Captured British Hostages
Iran Watch: Britain Seeks Iran Condemnation from the United Nations
Iran Watch: Britain Must FIRST Admit “MISTAKEâ€
Iran Watch: Iran Parades Brit Hostages on TV
Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran
Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?
Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?
Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran
Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance
Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters
Technorati Tags: Iran, Iraq, Britain, UnitedKingdomYahyaRahimSafaviTonyBlairManouchehrMottakiMahmoudAhmadinejad
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George W. Bush, Iran, Iran Nuclear Watch, Iraq, Iraq War, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tony Blair, United Kingdom
Iran Watch: Feckless Brits Seek Deal With Iran
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad(C) leaves the Friday prayers at Tehran university, 30 March 2007. Ahmadinejad again called for Britain to apologise for its sailors entering Iranian waters, the state news agency IRNA reported.
Ahmadinejad Calls U.K., Allies Arrogant
Iran’s hardline president said Saturday that Britain and its allies were “arrogant and selfish” for not apologizing over what he called the incursion of 15 captured British sailors and marines into Iranian waters.
President Bush described the 15 Britons as “hostages” in his first comments on the capture and said their seizure was “inexcusable,” calling for their release.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s most extensive comments on the crisis closely followed tough talk from other Iranian officials, an indication that Tehran’s position could be hardening.
Britain, meanwhile, appeared to be easing its stance, emphasizing its desire to talk with Iran about what it termed a regrettable situation.
“We continue to express our willingness to engage in dialogue and discussions with Iran,” Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said at a European Union summit in Bremen, Germany. I think everyone regrets that this position has arisen … What we want is a way out of it.”
Iran appeared unreceptive.
Of course, Iran will be unreceptive of the feckless Brits. Britain has shown itself to be WEAK. So, Iran will take advantage. Iran will want more.
Remember when President Ronald Reagan made the statement of “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH” an American foreign policy standard?
Tony Blair and the British have made “negotiate and beg” their national foreign policy standard.
The Brits need to show some backbone and intestinal fortitude or become subservient Dhimmis to the great Caliphate of Iran.
U.S. President George W. Bush answers a question during a joint news conference with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Camp David in Maryland March 31, 2007. Bush said on Saturday that Iran’s detention of 15 British sailors and marines was inexcusable and called on Tehran to release “the hostages” immediately.
In the meantime, the British government is trying to negotiate a “DEAL” with Iran.
Ministers seek deal with Iran for captives
Ministers are preparing a compromise deal to allow Iran to save face and release its 15 British military captives by promising that the Royal Navy will never knowingly enter Iranian waters without permission.
The Sunday Telegraph has learnt of plans to send a Royal Navy captain or commodore to Teheran, as a special envoy of the Government, to deliver a public assurance that officials hope will end the diplomatic standoff.
The move, which was discussed at a meeting of Whitehall’s Cobra crisis committee yesterday, came as Downing Street officials explicitly cautioned against hopes of a speedy outcome and said that families of the hostages should prepare for the “long haul”.
What a joke.
But, Britain can deal with Iran as it sees fit.
Iran knows that had they attacked and attempted to capture an American vessel that at the least the Americans would have fought them and that there would be no negotiations only reprisals.
Some Brits are not too happy:
Defence officials emphasised that they were not preparing to concede that the two British boats detained nine days ago were at fault. But one said: “We are quite prepared to give the Iranians a guarantee that we would never knowingly enter their waters without their permission, now or in the future.
We are not apologising, nor are we saying that we entered their waters in the first place. But it may offer a route out of the crisis.”
Details of the strategy emerged as a former Falklands War commander expressed fury at how the sailors surrendered to Iranian gunboats without a fight.
Maj Gen Julian Thompson called for a review of the Navy’s rules of engagement, dictated by the United Nations, that they cannot open fire unless they are shot at first. “In my view this thing is a complete cock-up,” he said.
“I want to know why the Marines didn’t open fire or put up some sort of fight. My fear is that they didn’t have the right rules of engagement, which would allow them to do this.”
This photo released by the Ministry of Defence shows the HMS Cornwall on station in the Gulf. More people in Britain oppose military action than support it to end the standoff over Iran’s capture of 15 British military personnel in the Gulf, a poll published at the weekend said.
Stay tuned……
Iranians wave their national flag during a celebration to mark the Islamic Republic Day in Tehran’s Revolution Square.
Previous:
Iran Watch: British Sailors May Be Tried By Iran
Iran Watch: Iran Releases Video and Letter of Captured British Hostages
Iran Watch: Britain Seeks Iran Condemnation from the United Nations
Iran Watch: Britain Must FIRST Admit “MISTAKEâ€
Iran Watch: Iran Parades Brit Hostages on TV
Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran
Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?
Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?
Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran
Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance
Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters
Technorati Tags: Iran, Iraq, Britain, UnitedKingdomYahyaRahimSafaviTonyBlairManouchehrMottakiMahmoudAhmadinejad
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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?
Of course, you know what Flap recommends to UK PM Tony Blair.
Stay tuned………
An Iranian hardline student holds an anti-British placard outside Iran’s Foreign Ministry in Tehran.
Previous:
Iran Watch: Britain Must FIRST Admit “MISTAKEâ€
Iran Watch: Iran Parades Brit Hostages on TV
Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran
Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?
Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?
Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran
Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance
Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters
Technorati Tags: Iran, Iraq, Britain, UnitedKingdomYahyaRahimSafaviTonyBlairManouchehrMottaki
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Iran Watch: Britain Must FIRST Admit “MISTAKE”
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki attends the opening ceremony of the Arab summit in Riyadh March 28, 2007.
AP: Iran: Britain Must Admit Navy Trespassed
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 Iranian authorities.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki’s announcement 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.
“First they have to admit that they have made a mistake. Admitting the mistake will facilitate a solution to the problem,” Mottaki told The Associated Press in an interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “But unfortunately the British have not admitted their mistake.”
And why would Britain admit to something that is not true?
This picture issued by the Britain’s Ministry of Defence illustrates documentary evidence presented by Britain that shows 15 British sailors and marines were inside Iraqi waters when they were captured by Iran.
This picture issued by the Britain’s Ministry of Defence shows the GPS location of the incident, as seen from a Royal Navy helicopter over the merchant vessel, as 15 British sailors and marines were captured by Iran. Britain on Wednesday froze official contacts with Iran in an escalating dispute over 15 detained naval personnel, as Tehran said it would soon release the only woman among the captives.
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.
His comments were the first confirmation that Iran agreed to a British request for a consular visit with the crew, though he did not specify when. Iran has not said where the 15 are being held.
“We have accepted that (the British request), there is no problem. Measures are underway (to arrange meeting.) They can meet them,” he said.
Ok, here is what the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Tony Blair should do ala Newt Gingrich on today’s Hugh Hewitt Show:
1. Tell Iran they could keep the fifteen hostages all the time they want, even though they are violating the 1949 Third Geneva Convention Article XIII regarding humiliating and degrading prisoners of war and that those responsible in the Iranian government would be charged later with War Crimes.
2. If Iran persisted in holding the prisoners that within one week Iran might discover that their oil refining capability, nuclear facilities, and one gasoline refinery might not work nor exist.
3. If Iran continued to hold the prisoners, that within a week the United Kingdom and the United States would enforce a blockade of all gasoline into Iran.
4. But, of course, if Iran simply admits they made a mistake in their GPS coordinates and expeditiously returns the fifteen prisoners, Iran might return to a mechanized society under United Nations sanctions .
Stay tuned…….
British Sailor POW Faye Turney
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Iran Watch: Iran Parades Brit Hostages on TV
Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran
Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?
Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?
Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran
Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance
Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters
Technorati Tags: Iran, Iraq, Britain, UnitedKingdomYahyaRahimSafaviTonyBlairManouchehrMottaki
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Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran
British Prime Minister Tony Blair looks on at a Public Service Reform conference in Westminster, London, Tuesday, March 27, 2007. Britain hopes that diplomacy will win the release of 15 sailors and marines detained by Iran but is prepared to move to a ‘different phase’ if negotiations fail, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday.
PM warns Iran over Navy captives
Downing Street said the UK could end up releasing evidence proving the group had not ventured into Iranian waters.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has called for their “speedy return”.
Meanwhile, the family of the only woman detained, Faye Turney from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, has said this is a “very distressing time” for them.
The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran.
Iran says they were trespassing in Iranian waters when they were seized on Friday – but the prime minister said the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.
And what does a “different phase” mean?
Coincidentally (or not), the United States Navy with the John C. Stennis has been conducting manuvers in and around the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran.
The U.S. Navy on Tuesday began its largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, led by a pair of aircraft carriers and backed by warplanes flying simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran.
The maneuvers bring together two strike groups of U.S. warships and more than 100 U.S. warplanes to conduct simulated air warfare in the crowded Gulf shipping lanes.
The U.S. exercises come just four days after Iran’s capture of 15 British sailors and marines who Iran said had strayed into Iranian waters near the Gulf. Britain and the U.S. Navy have insisted the British sailors were operating in Iraqi waters.
Fancy that……
And the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is in the region conducting war games with the USS John C. Stennis.
Stay tuned……
British hostages paraded in Iran on TV in 2004
Previous:
Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?
Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?
Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran
Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance
Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters
Technorati Tags: Iran, Iraq, Britain, UnitedKingdomYahyaRahimSafaviTonyBlair
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Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?
British hostages paraded in Iran on TV in 2004
Iranians interrogate captured Royal Marines
The 15 Royal Marines and sailors captured by Iran are being “interrogated”, officials in Tehran said today.
Amid fears that the 14 men and one woman face a show trial, Iranian television reported that the country did not want to exchange the Britons for five Iranians arrested in northern Iraq two months ago.
How do you spell “BARGAINING CHIP?”
British marines patrolling aboard an inflatable off Basra
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Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors
Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?
Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran
Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance
Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters
Technorati Tags: Iran, Iraq, Britain, UnitedKingdomYahyaRahimSafavi