Iran wants "gesture" from Britain.

After illegally detaining 15 British troops in Iraqi waters, holding them for almost 2 weeks during which the troops treatment was far from the "friendly" niceties we saw on the Iranian propoganda footage, Iran has requested a "gesture" from Britain in return for the goodwill they showed by releasing the captives.

Iran has called on Britain to respond to its release of 15 UK sailors and marines with a goodwill gesture.

Tehran's ambassador to London Rasoul Movahedian indicated to reporters that his country wants help to free five Iranian diplomats jailed by the US in Iraq.

The Muslim state also wants to ease concerns about its nuclear programme.

Mr Movahedian said: "We played our part and we showed our good will. Now it is up to the British government to proceed in a positive way."

He said it was a "mutual task" for Iran and the world's major powers to "glean the fruits" of Tehran's decision to release the Britons.

Mr Movahedian reportedly said he would welcome recognition by the UN Security Council's five permanent members - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - of what Iran says is its right to enrich uranium in its nuclear programme for peaceful purposes.

Source: Iran wants gesture from Britain in return for thier goodwill

So it begins.

Does anyone else find this laughable that a country can kidnap soldiers illegally, then ask for goodwiil gestures in return for thier release?

Would'nt a better way have been not kidnapping them in the first place, and complying with the various international agencies that have in fact been trying to help you all along, instead of being a stubborn ass and digging a bigger hole for yourself?

Any bets as to what the gesture will be that Iran is g

[edit on 7/4/07 by CX]

Technically neither side has proven wether the sailors were within Iranian waters or not. The evidence put forward so far has been highly questionable at best. So saying that they illegally detained them, that can't really be taken seriously.

As for goodwill? The Iranians didn't have to let the prisoners go. The Iranian government recieved many requests to prosecute the sailors, however, instead, they freed them. This is something I have seen little of from the UK.
The sailors were well kept, no signs of torture, well fed, dressed and then freed. Quite frankly, it's better treatment than any prisoner the UK or US is currently holding from the region has recieved.

The Iranians obviously freed the prisoners because they have no interest in starting a war over it. I'd say thats a clear sign they are worthy of co-operation.

Just before they were freed, I saw many posts on here urging for the absolute destruction of Iran for it. People saying that Iran had better do the right thing and release the British sailors.
Now that Iran has done so, and are looking for some form of recognition for their way-above-par treatment of their prisoners, you are ridiculing them for it?

It's starting to sound like it doesn't matter what anyone does over there. As soon as people know the persons in question are Arabs, they are guilty of everything, from being terrorists, to being opressive and ruthless killers.

I look only at what I have seen as proven, and so far, Iran has done nothing wrong, in fact, they acted better than the coalition ever has since this whole mess started.

Originally posted by CX
After illegally detaining 15 British troops in Iraqi waters, holding them for almost 2 weeks during which the troops treatment was far from the "friendly" niceties we saw on the Iranian propoganda footage, Iran has requested a "gesture" from Britain in return for the goodwill they showed by releasing the captives.

Are you trying to counter propoganda with propoganda?
As said,

Neither side has proven where they were.
For you to accuse Iran of acting illegialy is WRONG!

I think, the least Britain could do, is request that the coalition investigate ALL CLAIMS of nuclear weapons proliferation before bombing them.

after all, its the least we could do!

Sure, if they can't hear my middle finger when it's pointed downwards, I'd be pleased to turn it up for them. Is that gesture enough?

How about this, " Call them up and tell them that we didn't bomb your ass back into the stone age, and as a 2nd gesture, we will give you a wee bit more time to come to grips with your obligations to world to not do what you said you would not do"


Chicken#s - now the reason I say this is that I do not think that the Brits were in Iranian waters at all. This stunt backfired on them, even though they made it to be a 'nice gesture'

The only gesture we should give them is the old two fingered salute.
Twice they've detained members of our military and twice they've kept their equipment, the Iranian government are nothing but pirates.

The Iranian leadership needn't worry about a return gesture, that'll be forth coming, but it'll be at a time we choose and not exactly what they were hoping for. It staggers me that the leadership of that country have dropped such a monumental clanger. Prior to this little stunt there was parts of my country that were not too sure about Iran and any possible need to deal with them. If you listen to the talk shows and radio phone in's now it is very clear what people think of that slightly unstable half-wit in Iran.

They're a dying regime and the sooner they're put down the better.

Iran would have been better off keeping the sailors and chaining them to the front gates of their nuclear reactor. So many people want to see the destruction of yet another country on the basis of scant evidence and heresay and they can't win even when they comply, so why bother?

You should all read Johnsky's post again, it's how rational people see the situation.

Originally posted by johnskyNow that Iran has done so, and are looking for some form of recognition for their way-above-par treatment of their prisoners, you are ridiculing them for it?

Above par? parading them on TV like sheep? Your #ting me right?

Originally posted by johnskyI look only at what I have seen as proven, and so far, Iran has done nothing wrong, in fact, they acted better than the coalition ever has since this whole mess started.

Nope - announcing that the destruction of Israel is a good thing and the Holocaust never happened and is only a Zionist conspiracy. Nothing wrong there

I know a good "gester", it involves a finger!

Originally posted by thumper76I know a good "gester", it involves a finger!

And maybe just one well placed JDAM......

Really I don't dislike the Iranian people as the one I have met are very nice, its just this government sure blows..

Funny that what many say of the US isn't it?

Send Illustrious, Edinburgh, Ark Royal and Ocean to the Persian Gulf

Iran has done everything wrong. Those letters were coerced, fact. Any fool can see that. As soon as the Brits were capture, the TV cameras arrived, and they put flags on the British boats.

The only people that say they were captured in Iranian waters, were...yes the Iranians.

The British government, AND the sailors say they were in Iraqi waters, and so does the Indian merchant vessel. The Iraqi government also states that the British were in Iraqi waters.

The Iranians have been robbing merchant ships in the area, in the same manner that they captured the Brits.

Agitchop and Johnsky, do you not deny that it was a media stunt? Do you not deny that they were not allowed to be treated in that manner, considering that we aren't even legally at war. Do you not deny that any other countries standard operating procedure is to escort any trespassing forces back out into international or friendly waters?

There's a gesture that originated at Agincourt that might prove very appropriate.

Iran have shown now why they did what they did, they did it to try and get leverage to get back there people that are being held by the US and also show that they aint the weak pathetic people there are, having to hide behind Russia and China whilst throwing insults and threatening israel.

and to Agitchop and Johnsky take your blinkers off and look with unclouded eyes because as far as i can see you just Urinating into the wind !

My guess is that the NEXT time the Iranian navy attempts to interfere with the Brits operating in Iraqi waters it will end very much differently. Perhaps it will be the UK taking the Iranian sailors prisoner for violating Iraqi territorial waters. In any case, don't be surprised to find the UK patrol boats more heavily armed in the future and their escort far less likley to allow any other ships/boats to approach.

The British marines were in Iraqi waters? Iraq doesn't have any waters and if they were anywhere it would be the Persian Gulf. Just who are the Persians you may ask? They are the Iranians. They control the Persian Gulf or atleast they did until the EU and US showed up and tried to take over so the british saying they were in Iraqi waters is totally false.

Iraq does have territorial waters there.

any bloody nation with a coastline is guaranteed territorial waters of some description!

Originally posted by johnsky
The sailors were well kept, no signs of torture, well fed, dressed and then freed. Quite frankly, it's better treatment than any prisoner the UK or US is currently holding from the region has recieved.

Acording to the sailors they were beaten and threatened with weapons. The UK does not hold prisnors in the region, and if we did we would treat them correctly, unlike the US we are goverened by the EU human rights law.

I can only be amused by folks who continually say "there is no PROOF that Iran is building nuclear weapons, there is no PROOF that Iran is supplying weapons, there is no Proof . . . "

Exactly what do you consider PROOF?? We have found brand new Iranian weapons in Iraq, we have captured numerous Iranian soldiers in Iraq, we have captured Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Iraq and we have recently learned that Iranian troops crossed the border and attacked Iraqi and American troops.

As for the nuclear issue Iran is spending HUGE amounts of money to try to enrich their own Uranium - WHY? I'm sure if they really only wanted nuclear energy from power plants they could buy reactor fuel rods already made for FAR LESS MONEY. If they really only want peaceful nuclear power why go to all of the trouble of building huge bunkers for their facilities and hundreds or thousands of "defensive" missiles?

What would you consider proof that Iran is building nuclear weapons? What would you consider proof that Iran is sending weapons and thousands of soldiers to Iraq to make sure there is no peace? What would you consider to be proof that we need to attack Iran?

As for a gesture to Iran - I can think of several, none of which I will mention here.