Downing Street Says » Iranian Hostages

Asked why we could not release the coordinates of where our personnel were, and so clearing any discrepancy between us and Iran, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) replied that throughout all of this we had been making a very genuine effort to have discussions with the Iranians in private, so not to escalate the tension. And anything that we did would have to be in accordance with that principle. People should not mistake discretion for lack of certainty. As we had said this morning, we were utterly certain that our personnel were in Iraqi water, but there were ways of handling this which should be observed in the interest of those personnel.

Asked if we would be showing the Iranians the coordinates, the PMOS replied that he would not be getting into a running commentary. There was a discrete way of handling this, but that should not be taken for any lack of certainty on our part.

Asked if it was the Government’s view that contact with the Foreign Ministry in Tehran was futile, as they may not know the whereabouts of the serviceman, the PMOS replied that he would not be drawn into speculation. All he would say was that we were making every effort bilaterally, and through our international contacts, to convince Iran that these personnel were in Iraqi waters, secondly that they should be immediately released, and also to point out that the international community was speaking with one voice on this matter.

Asked to confirm that intelligence suggested that the Iranians did not have a clear set of motives, and that a similar clarity may not exist on the Iranian side, the PMOS replied that it was not helpful to start speculating whilst discussions were ongoing, it was much better to concentrate on trying to get the personnel out.

Asked if we had been given a reasonably clear picture by the Iranians, whether it was right or not, of what happened and why it happened, the PMOS replied that it was understandable that everyone wanted to speculate about this, but it was much more important to get on with the job.

Asked about the international contacts mentioned in a previous reply, and were there third parties involved in negotiations, the PMOS replied that looking at the EU statement at the weekend, and that statements coming out of other countries, they supported our demand for the immediate release of our personnel.

Asked if we had any confirmation that the British servicemen would be interrogated, as the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister had suggested, the PMOS replied that again it was not helpful to reveal the details of the discussions.

Asked if there had been any contacts with the US on this issue, the PMOS replied that we were in discussions with all our allies.

2 Comments »

TO TONY BLAIR THE BRITISH PEOPLE ARE SICK OF JUST TALKING TO THE THICK IRANIANS. THEY FORCIBLY TOOK OUR SALORS. SO WHY NOT SHOW THEM WITH A FOTILLER OF SHIPS FROM GREAT BRITIAN+THE YANKS+THE U.N.FORCES OFF THEIR COASTLINE,SHIPS+CARRIERS TELLING THEM TO RETURN THE SALORS OF FACE A DIFFERANT WRATH.

YOURS SINCERLY

FRANK SWIFT
Comment by frank swift — 28 Mar 2007 on 2:01 pm | Link
TO TONY BLAIR THE BRITISH PEOPLE ARE SICK OF JUST TALKING TO THE THICK IRANIANS. THEY FORCIBLY TOOK OUR SALORS. SO WHY NOT SHOW THEM WITH A FOTILLER OF SHIPS FROM GREAT BRITIAN+THE YANKS+THE U.N.FORCES OFF THEIR COASTLINE,SHIPS+CARRIERS TELLING THEM TO RETURN THE SALORS OF FACE A DIFFERANT WRATH.

YOURS SINCERLY

FRANK SWIFT
Comment by frank swift — 28 Mar 2007 on 2:02 pm | Link

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» Monday, March 26, 2007

Iranian Hostages

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