Phoenix9 From Canada, joined Aug 2007, 2546 posts, RR: 8 Posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1195 times:
From the Toronto Star:
Iranian authorities have detained several local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran, a move that Britain's foreign secretary Sunday called "harassment and intimidation" and reflected a hardening of the regime's stance toward the West. The European Union condemned the arrests.
Iranian media said eight local embassy staff were detained for an alleged role in post-election protests, but gave no further details. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said "about nine" employees were detained Saturday and that four had been released.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Corfu, Greece, issued a statement Sunday condemning the arrests and calling for the immediate release of all those still detained. The 27-nation bloc also denounced Iran's continuing restrictions on journalists.
Seems like Iran is well on its way to further deteriorate the dimplomatic stability of that region and have a firm dictatorship in place for the country. At the end, who suffers the most - the civilians; including innocent deaths, prison terms and torture. Dispecable.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11715 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1189 times:
Quoting Phoenix9 (Thread starter): Iranian media said eight local embassy staff were detained for an alleged role in post-election protests, but gave no further details.
That's only because the Iranian Police Authorities have not decided on which story they want to make up, yet, against the British.
I guess Iran forgot how the RAF SAS troops risked their own lives saving the lives of Iranian diplomates, in London, in the 1990s, when terrorists took the Iranian Embassy?????
DeltaMD90 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 5318 posts, RR: 47 Reply 2, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1164 times:
I hope the British do something about this. And even more if the British do end up taking action I hope this administration will help. The British have always been there for us and I know millions of Americans wouldn't want to sit back while the British get their hands dirty.
Phoenix9 From Canada, joined Aug 2007, 2546 posts, RR: 8 Reply 3, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1161 times:
Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 2): I hope the British do something about this
Well they have had tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions already. What else can they do anyways (being short of starting a war)?
from the article:
Iran has accused the West of stoking unrest, singling out Britain and the U.S. for alleged meddling and for expressing concern about the ferocity of the regime's crackdown on protesters. Last week, Iran expelled two British diplomats, and Britain responded in kind. Iran has also said it's considering downgrading diplomatic ties with Britain.
Life only makes sense when you look at it backwards.
DeltaMD90 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 5318 posts, RR: 47 Reply 4, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1119 times:
Shouldn't have done a fast post. If Iran holds them like they did our guys for 444 days I hope we'll intervene instead of... well do nothing like last time
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16831 posts, RR: 57 Reply 5, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1107 times:
See, I feel like this is a perfect role for special forces. Get in, break some stuff, rescue your people, get out. And it's a slap in the face to Iran.
LAXintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22070 posts, RR: 51 Reply 6, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1104 times:
Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 4): If Iran holds them like they did our guys for 444 days I hope we'll intervene instead of... well do nothing like last time
They are local employees -- likely Iranian nationals.
Not much Britain can jump up and down about.
Anyhow, if they broke any laws, or tried to subvert the government they are subject to whatever the authorities wish to do.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
DeltaMD90 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 5318 posts, RR: 47 Reply 7, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1078 times:
Quoting LAXintl (Reply 6): They are local employees -- likely Iranian nationals.
Oh ok, I thought they were British citizens... well I hope they're ok then! I was wondering why no one else was making a big deal....
Fridgmus From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 1383 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1043 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 5): See, I feel like this is a perfect role for special forces. Get in, break some stuff, rescue your people, get out. And it's a slap in the face to Iran.
Absolutely correct Doc! I hope the SAS are at least planning something, even though their employees are locals.
Tyranny has to be stood up to!
The Lockheed Super Constellation, the REAL Queen of the Skies!
Five out of nine local staff from the UK embassy detained in Tehran have been released, Iranian officials say.
The crime was...
"The embassy sent staff among the rioters to direct them in order to escalate the riots so that the rioters could file fabricated reports about the [rallies] to the world from various locations," the Iranian minister added.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11715 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 1009 times:
"The embassy sent staff among the rioters to direct them in order to escalate the riots so that the rioters could file fabricated reports about the [rallies] to the world from various locations," the Iranian minister added.
How do they know it was the British Embassy that "sent" them, and not these individuals protesting the election on their own?
Oly720man From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 6193 posts, RR: 11 Reply 12, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 995 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 10): How do they know it was the British Embassy that "sent" them, and not these individuals protesting the election on their own?
I'd expect that any Iranian national working at the British Embassy would by closely monitored by the Iranians and they could to little, if anything, outside the embassy without being observed. So it's hard to imagine them getting involved in anything like this, especially at the behest of the UK, because of the potential personal consequences.
But they're an easy target for the Iranian government and one more thing to get at the UK government with. Such is dealing with a madhouse.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12715 posts, RR: 80 Reply 13, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 973 times:
The problem with dealing with Iran is, as the disputed election has shown, that it's a Hydra like government structure seemingly designed by Kafka.
(Going back to the US Embassy hostage crisis 30 years ago, even Khomeini himself initially wanted them freed. The 'students' who took them were acting on the authority of another leader. Though once he saw where opinion was going, Khomeini threw his weight behind the captors).
This is just a bit of hissy fit harassment, designed to steer attention away from the cracks this election has shown in the ruling edifice.
Sadly, what is happening there is of course off the news agenda because of the death of an over indulged weirdo who was once a major pop musician.
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From Canada, joined Aug 2007, 2546 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11715 posts, 
They are local employees -- likely Iranian nationals.
From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 6193 posts, 
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