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As an Iranian I pray for the immediate release of the British mariners.
Farhad, Tehran
It is our obvious right to keep our borders safe. At least you saw your sailors they were safe, but what about our diplomats in Iraq.
Majid, Tehran
Instead of arresting them, it would be better if they issued warnings to these British marines - if they really had entered Iranian territory - and then guide them to the International waters. In such an intense situation, it is not to the benefit of Iran to get itself involved in another political row.
Babak, Tehran
Somebody (either Iranians or the British) has made a mistake and it does not need so much hue and cry! The story is becoming more like the arrest of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah in Lebanon, which resulted in a month of killing in that country. I am very surprised at Tony Blair's remarks, which makes the situation even more sensitive. It is not a positive step towards resolving the issue.
Behnam Beikzadeh
I think it seems impossible to say where exactly these marines where arrested, but I hope the Iranian government will release them as soon as possible, especially because of the current situation of Iran towards the international community. I think with regards to the recent remarks by Ayatollah Khamenei who said Iran might resort to illegal means (if the West does anything illegal towards Iran), it might be the case the Iran wants to get some concessions by arresting the UK marines. I hope they act more wisely about this issue.
Nima, Dubai
I feel no compassion for the British sailors. They are transgressors and deserve to be punished. I am completely sure that the British sailors are safe and have not been subject to any torture. In my opinion Iran has detained them in a move to secure the release of the Iranian diplomats (held by the Americans in Iraq).
Mehrdad, Sydney
In my opinion the British are exaggerating the situation. With the current circumstances, it is inconceivable that Iran would have detained these soldiers with no reason. Actually, quite opposite to their propaganda, the Iranians are very careful not to give the West any excuse. I think such a risky act by Iran shows that the Iranians have really lost their patience. One would have to be bigheaded to come and invade a country from the other side of the world and then to violate its neighbours borders and expect no reaction at all.
Morteza, New York
Although I feel no compassion for the detained British sailors, but have to say that Iran's regime has acted far from expediency. I have no doubt that the sailors will not be subject to any torture and that they will be released very soon. Once again the Iranian regime will survive a crisis created by itself.
Alireza, Tehran
It is not important if the British sailors had really entered the Iranian waters or not. They were detained because of certain political circumstances and they will be released again under new political circumstances. It is useless to argue about the sailors' location. Because everything that happens in our country is politically motivated.
Asad, Iran
The so called Iranian officials are spoiling the reputation of our country. When our own people are getting detained and forced to confess under torture - many of whom later deny their confessions - one can guess how our reputation is going to be spoiled when such an act is done to a foreigner.
Kaveh Ahangar
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My Opinion :
- Very complicated situation, violating borders is something that can easily happen, as it did about 3 weeks ago in Iran-Afghanistan border and one Iranian and one Afghan soldier died but nothing happened ... It's not that big deal but in such sensitive situations, it can end up to such big deals ...
I think best way for both sides is to cool down issue and try to negotiate over it in a more friendley manner. I think behind this story, Islamic republic is trying to give hope to people inside Iran about its military power and how others are afraid of them and a message to all the world, specially U.S. and her allies in middle east.
3 comments:
Thanks for putting into the public domain a set of views that show thought and moderation from a country that is not well represented (though not ignored) in that department by the British popular press.
I have acknowledged this in Tony's Tours, a harsher, usually satirical, critique of British Political Life.
Make no mistake about it, the USUK Anglo-Saxon Empire is softening-up public opinion for another big war.
All the lies, manoeuvring and nonsensical propaganda currently emanating from that inveterate liar, war criminal and sociopath, Tony Blair, over what increasingly looks like a manufactured provocation of the Iranians in disputed Gulf Waters is leading inexorably to War Talk and more mass murder.
Since January 2006 this writer has done what he could to warn folk of what the Bush-Blair warmongers are up to now.
The Brits are past masters at the devious use of lies, distorted facts and the manipulation of legal processes to inflict their imperial will on their victims. They have a long history of several centuries playing dirty games on an unsuspecting world. When it comes to turning reality upside-down it has to be said that the Brits are far better at telling lies and getting away with murder than their North American counterparts in Washington, DC.
CHIMES OF FREEDOM, http://chimesofreedom.blogspot.com
I believe you are quite right, Shahab, in saying that there is now a need for both sides to cool down and negotiate.
There IS an international convention to which both Iran and Britain are signatories. It is the 108-year-old 1899 Hague Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, http://pca-cpa.org/ENGLISH/BD/1899.htm
Both Iran and the United Kingdom are contracting parties to the 1899 Hague Convention.
Title III of the 1899 Convention created a procedure for the formation of international commissions of inquiry to investigate, ascertain and report on international differences involving neither honor nor vital interests, and arising from disputed points of fact that could not be settled by means of diplomacy (article 9).
An International Commission of Inquiry is precisely what is called for here to resolve this dispute.
I do not know if this Convention has ever been used but all it needs is either Iran or Britain to invoke it and the process will start.
Neither side needs to apologise to the other, merely to agree that the incident took place in a disputed area. The final judgement will follow in due course by a panel of judges.
This is clearly the civilized way to settle this matter. But is either side prepared to behave in a civilized way? Though I live in Britain I am inclined to sympathise with Iran who is more likely to act within the law.
I do not believe that Tony Blair has any respect for international law. After all, he broke it when joining that rogue Bush in the invasion of Iraq. Both Bush and Blair are war criminals and should be tried as such in the Hague.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/mar2007/garz-m27.shtml
Is Blair prepared to take the peaceful, legal way to settle this dispute or is his present behaviour meant to start a process of escalation whose purpose is to isolate Iran and prepare the public for a US nuclear attack on Iran?
Both Blair and Bush abused the United Nations and the IAEA over both Iraq and Iran. Iran's nuclear programme is totally legal. Yet the IAEA was bullied by the US and UK into agreeing to allow the UN Security Council to bring sanctions again Iran.
Sanctions which Iran has quite correctly said are illegal.
The piratical behaviour of both Bush and Blair remind one of Hitler and Mussolini who abused the League of Nations in a similar way in the 1930s.
There are many in the informed Net community who fear this dispute will be used by the West to justify an attack on Iran. Look at the way in which the US is encircling Iran with its military, in Iraq, the Gulf and in Afghanistan. No wonder the Iranian government feels edgy!
Iran has lived for over a century in peace. Not so the USA which is the most warlike and destructive country in the world.
Is Blair prepared to make peace with Iran? For all our sakes, especially the innocent people who would die horribly in a US nuclear attack, I pray that he will.
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