Britain Says Iran Forced The Boats Into Their Waters

[Aaron]

CBC

LONDON - British Defence Minister Geoff Hoon says eight British servicemen taken into custody by Iranian troops last week claim they were forced into Iranian territorial waters.

Tehran claimed the six Royal Marines and two sailors had strayed into the Iranian side of territorial waters in the Shatt al-Arab waterway which forms the border between Iran and Iraq, but Hoon told the House of Commons that the men report they did not make a navigational mistake.

Some of the British servicmen were show on Iranian TV. (CP photo)
"In a recent debriefing, the crews have said that they were operating inside the Iraqi border and were forcibly escorted into Iranian territorial waters," he said in a statement.

An examination of global positioning system equipment could clear up the dispute, but that equipment was confiscated by the Iranians.

The eight men were held for three days before being released.

Now what would be the logic in that action? Did Iran think that It would make them look like a big player on the Middle East scene?

[Wicked Pilot]

Now what would be the logic in that action? Did Iran think that It would make them look like a big player on the Middle East scene?

It was probably to impress their own people. They can put the sailors and marines on their state run television and claim whatever story they wish.