IRAN DETAINS ROYAL NAVY VESSELS
Iran has reportedly seized three Royal Navy vessels that entered its territorial waters and arrested eight British sailors.
Arab-language satellite news channel Al-Alam said the seacraft had been detained near the Iraqi border.
Iranian naval sources told the offcial station: "The Iranian navy has confiscated three British boats that entered Iranian territorial waters... arresting the crew of eight people.
"On the boats they found weapons and maps."
The confrontation was said to have taken place in the Shatt al Arab stretch of water between Iraq and Iran.
Sky News' Foreign Editor Tim Marshall said: "Iran is making a point to Britain probably, and that point is 'back off'."
It looks more to me like they're trying to pick a fight.
Posted by floridacracker at June 21, 2004 08:09 AMThey don't want a fight ....its a case of the empty barrel making the most noise.
Posted by: Southern Knight at June 21, 2004 07:29 PMSo what are they doing, SK?
Posted by: Donnah at June 21, 2004 10:19 PMWhat ocean going vessel *won't* have maps and weapons???
My guess is it's a bargaining chip to get the UN to back off on their nukes.
Posted by: James at June 22, 2004 10:52 AMThey are just distracting us from their nuke programs. I suspect that it will only go so far before Israel bombs them.
Posted by: Southern Knight at June 22, 2004 08:07 PMYou may well be right, SK.
Posted by: Donnah at June 22, 2004 10:28 PM