or else? Will they be papered to death at the UN?
They requested that Iran give them back.
This is not the first time Iran has captured British sailors.
The last time Iran captured them, put them on TV where they "admitted" that they had illegally strayed into Iran's waters.
They were then released. After which they once again said that they were not in Iran's waters.
Iran is playing bully again. They are making none to subtle threats as they are being called before the UN security council.
Iran knowingly committed an act of war, and an act that shows complete contempt for the UN security council.
The Brits had a frigate right there, and they just let the Iranian navy sail up and abduct their men for the second time in 3 years.
That Frigate had to know that the Iranian ships were in the area, why did it not put itself between those ship and it's boats that were boarding the suspected smugglers? Why did they do nothing to protect their men?
So what does the commander of the Cornwall have to say?
"I've got 15 sailors and marines who have been arrested by the Iranians and my immediate concern is their safety," he told British Broadcasting Corp. television.
The Iranians were in Iraqi waters. How could they "arrest" anyone. They were abducted, but the British don't want to escalate the situation. Therefore Iran knows it can safely take British soldiers hostage right in front of their commander with nothing to fear.