Iran ‘to try Britons for espionage’

I don't believe they'll actually carry through with this, but if they do, well, that would not be a good thing. Here's the story:


FIFTEEN British sailors and marines arrested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards off the coast of Iraq may be charged with spying.

A website run by associates of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, reported last night that the Britons would be put before a court and indicted.

Referring to them as “insurgents”, the site concluded: “If it is proven that they deliberately entered Iranian territory, they will be charged with espionage. If that is proven, they can expect a very serious penalty since according to Iranian law, espionage is one of the most serious offences.”

The warning followed claims by Iranian officials that the British navy personnel had been taken to Tehran, the capital, to explain their “aggressive action” in entering Iranian waters. British officials insist the servicemen were in Iraqi waters when they were held.

<snip>

The article goes on to say that the same threat was made in 2004, but all eight captured brits were released after 3 days. The article also indicates that the brits were in Iranian waters, according to an Iraqi official.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1563877.ece

They're uniformed soldiers. Insurgents are by definition, irregulars. There's no basis to try uniformed soldiers for espionage. At worst, they are prisoners of war after committing an act of war, and therefore, are protected by the appropriate conventions.

Iran really doesn't want to try these guys.

I'm trying to think of something that would be more stupid for Iran to do. I haven't come up with anything.

There's no way they'll go through with it.

....the Security Council slaps sanctions on Iran they will put these hostages, I mean, Western Spies, on trial....isn't the law, the law?....and isn't standing up to the West good for Middle Eastern prestige?....Irans on a roll....

....as for the truth, I wouldn't believe anybody, especially the British....

Iran is the last country that should be complaining about uninvited trouble-makers (see Iraq).

by the US' main allies in the Iraqi government.

These guys were in uniform, weren't they?

Cause it seems like they're poking us in the balls every chance they get.

I wish it were brains (or even a heart.)