Iranian waters?

[Paul22118]

Just heard on the news that there is now a possibility that we were wrong and the RN was in Iranian wters. What now Stanley?

[boobesque]

quote from bbc news

But former Royal Navy head Adm Sir Alan West dismissed suggestions the British boats had strayed into Iranian waters...

...Sir Alan told BBC News that tracking systems then had proven that the servicemen had been in Iraqi waters.

the UN are deciding wether or not to impose sanctions on iran next week and maybe this is there silly way of bargaining.

[Zen]

Naturally he would, who is telling the truth ?
Remember we are governed by a load of spin merchants ?
I am afraid I have reached the point where everything this Government syas I believe the opposite.

[Grunty]

Only the Iranians say the incident took place in Iranian waters. They would say that, wouldn't they? I think a party of 15 British sailors and Marines know exactly where they are, especially when they have tracking equipment on them.

If this was a chance stray into Iran waters, why did Iran have six boats ready, on a public holiday, to pounce at a moment's notice?

[maxximus]

maybe because their country is being surrounded and they are no doubt on high alert, for good reason. they are protecting their soverign countries international borders as is their right, as it is every countries right.

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps this is not an isolated incident, but the 2nd time they've been caught.

[Whickerman]

why were they unarmed?

[johnlambert]

the patrol boats were unarmed, the sailors and Marines would have been armed with their personal weapons (rifle 5.56 or to give it it's popular name SA80), however they would only be able to open fire if they belived that they were going to be killed by the Iranians, or if the Iranians opened fire first, the Rules of Engagement are VERY stict on this matter and is enshrined in international law.
Each boat has an onboard GPS (Global Positioning Satalite system) which would show them their exact location, it is VERY unlikely that the RN would stray into Iranian waters, it is also unlikely that the Iranians will release the GPS's when the UK personnel are repatriated, they still have the patrol craft and GPS from 2004 when they illegally captured 8 RN personnel.
When captured they (the UK Forces Pers) are only obliged to give the "big 4" pieces of information, they are
1) Service number
2) Name
3) Rank
4) Religion
It is also very, very unlikely that they would admit they were in Iranian waters even if they were. Once again this is enshrined in international law, called The Law of Armed Conflict, including the Geneiva Conventions

[jno]

all governments lie about this sort of thing; I don't know whether Blair or Ahmadinejad is less trustworthy. But aren't there any photos available from the zillions of satellites up there that would show the truth one way or the other?

[kwicky]

The Iranians say they have proof that the boats were in Iranian waters. If so the 15 soldiers are likely to be charged with espionage. The punishment for this could be the death penalty. Hope they sort it out!

[boobesque]

i doubt that ahmadinejad would have the nuts to execute them while we are not at war

[1rovert]

As I see it, we should send four Aircraft Carriers, ten Battleships, and half a dozen(6) Cruisers, and park them in the Pursian Gulf, that would give the Iranians something to think about.

Oh! silly me, this Government has scrapped the lot, so sorry?