[ROCKLOBSTER]

The response to the inquiry, which had been immediately patched through to Ministry of Defence headquarters in Whitehall, was to hold fire.

The response should have been, "Sink it"

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

"The response should have been, "Sink it""
As I understand it, the sailers/marines were quickly surrounded, and hustled aboard the iranian ship. Human shields to protect the iranians from retaliation