3 Americans held by Iran?

[Hazcat]

Nov 30, 2:55 PM (ET)

By RAPHAEL G. SATTER

LONDON (AP) - Iran is holding five British sailors after stopping their racing yacht in the Persian Gulf, the British government said Monday. The move could heighten tensions between Iran and major world powers, including Britain, that are demanding a halt to its nuclear program. Oil prices spiked 2 percent to $77.45 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as the news broke.

The yacht owned by Sail Bahrain was stopped on its way from the tiny island country to the Gulf city of Dubai on Wednesday when it "may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters," Britain's Foreign Office said. Sail Bahrain's Web site identified the yacht as the "Kingdom of Bahrain" and said it had been due to join the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race, which was to begin Nov. 26.

The event was to be the boat's first offshore race, the Web site said, adding that the vessel had been fitted with a satellite tracker.

Attempts to reach representatives of the raceboat's owner were not immediately successful.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that British officials had been in touch about the matter with their Iranian counterparts for nearly a week. It was not immediately clear why British officials had decided to publicize the case now.

"I hope this issue will soon be resolved," Miliband said in the brief statement.

The statement added that the crew members "are still in Iran" and were "understood to be safe" but did not specify whether they are and what their legal status is. Calls seeking clarification from Britain's Foreign Office was not immediately returned.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry official said he was not aware of reports a British yacht had been stopped. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard has the responsibility for protecting Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf. Officials from the Guard and from the regular navy could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Iran is holding three young Americans who strayed across the border from northern Iraq in July. The U.S. has appealed for their release, saying they were innocent hikers who accidentally crossed into Iran. Tehran has accused them of spying, a sign that they could be put on trial.

Fifteen British military personnel were detained in the Gulf by Iran under disputed circumstances in March 2007. Iran charged them with trespassing in its waters, and the Iranian government televised apologies by some of the captured crew.

All were eventually freed without an apology from Britain, which steadfastly insisted the crew members were taken in Iraqi waters, where they were authorized to be.

The phone rang unanswered at the Iranian Embassy in London.

Iran's nuclear chief on Monday said U.N. criticism of its nuclear program had pushed his country to retaliate by announcing ambitious plans for more uranium enrichment. With tensions rising over deadlocked negotiations, France said diplomacy was not working and sanctions against Iran were needed.


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091130/D9CA26680.html

Does any one remember hearing of this before?  I don't!

[Pathfinder]

About the hikers? Yeah, older news. Nothing of late although periodically something popps up and we are reminded, like this story. The Mom of one of the 3 has been on TV a few times pleading with the Iranians to release them.

[JC5123]

Does anyone think that Iran would be pulling this crap if we had a president that didn't bow to third world dictators? Seriously, say what you will about Bush (personally I think his domestic policy was a disaster) but his foreign policy was I thought pretty good. He projected the image that the U.S. would not be bullied. I don't think Iran would be holding these hostages if they thought for one moment that there might be consequences.

Yes I know say what you will about our previous failed attempt to free hostages in Iran, but our military has come a long way since then.

[garand4life]

If the President didn't sympathize with terrorists we would be in a better position to call Iran's bluff so to speak. But at this point Iran knows we won't take any action that would "damage" our new kinder, friendlier approach to foreign policy. But don't count on any help from the U.S. Military since they are too busy being run into the ground by their commander and chief. Look at the lack of direction for the decision on Afghanistan. What's so hard about finishing the fight? Let the commanders on the ground have what they need to finish this so we can go home! This crap is what has dragged out this conflict and cost lives. Even Bush as good as he was at setting a direction of taking the fight to the enemy, he did the same thing when he dictated the ROE that congressional blowhards wanted. Instead of shoot to kill the order of shoot only if you can, through evidentiary means, show that you were going to die by the enemies hands. I am surprised that Iran hasn't made more outlandish attacks on America and Israel.

[tombogan03884]

We should have nuked that hole 30 years ago.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Poor decisions, and poor navigation. Damn blowboaters at that.

Hey Let's go hiking on the Iran/Iraq border.....
"                 " sailing in waters where Iranians have captured even Navy sailors,.....

Let's see,....

Get too close or cross the border illegally in China.
"                                                          " Iran
"                                                          " Cuba
"                                                          " North Korea
"                                                          " Venezuela
You will have major problems,....if you live...

"                                                          " United States?
You can get a job, driver's license, free health care, SS#, food stamps, and in some places get to vote....