Iran Escalates Its Fight With Britain; New Clashes Erupt

[undeterred]

Source: The New York Times

CAIRO — Iran’s government said Sunday that it had arrested Iranian employees of the British Embassy, while the police in Tehran beat and fired tear gas at several thousand protesters who joined a demonstration at a mosque in support of defeated presidential candidate Mir Hussein Moussavi.

The government’s arrest of nine Iranian employees of the British Embassy marked a significant escalation in its conflict with Britain, which Tehran has sought to cast as an instigator of the unrest since the disputed June 12 election. It said the embassy employees played a significant role in organizing the protests, which have reached across the country and across social and economic lines.

Tehran also continued to charge journalists with working as agents of discord, publishing one editor’s “confession” while continuing to keep others behind bars without charge or barred from working.

The arrests, detentions and restrictions added to Iran’s growing international isolation, as European Union foreign ministers meeting in Corfu, Greece, warned in a statement that there would be a “strong and collective EU response” to any intimidation of its members’ diplomatic staffs. The British foreign ministry said some of its personnel had been released, but declined to provide details.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/world/middleeast/29iran.html?ref=global-home

[SkyDaddy7]

1. The Europeans wont do a DAMN THING!

The Iranian Government has used and abused every European Nation since 1979 and none of them has done anything about it...Well, I take that back, they let cold blooded killers out of jail because they are to scared of retaliation.

This is a big reason why Iran can still function! European Nations continue to have diplomatic and economic relations with Iran! Iran knows European Nations are scared of them and will do what they say! It is a shame because the Iranian regime could be toppled if Europe would simply stop feeding the beast.

China & Russia don't help but Europe should know better!

[Democracyinkind]

2. Go back to 1979/80 and look who are the real friends of the Regime. It's not the Europeans.

You'd be surprised at all the familiar names. (little hint, ends with "eocons")

I think shipping weapons there is way worse than taking shit from them.

Still, fuck the regime.

[pjt7]

3. I'd love to know

what the British have really been up to there?

[EFerrari]

4. Me, too. On the other hand, it's easier to deflect to the British,

who will not invade, unlike trying to blame the US. It's even money that the Brits were involved and that we were in some way, too.

[Democracyinkind]

8. That's my opinion too. Iran is a mystery though. No clear lines. Who's who and on what side?

Mousavi the "Democratic Hero" whom Ronny owes a presidency

Rafsanjani the "secular capitalist" who owes his fortunes to Ollie North

The Jundullah boys, bombing up election stations and engaging the regime, paid CIA shills but who gives them orders? Doesn't seem like everything they do is tailored by the CIA.

The 400 millions for "regime change" in Iran - when, where, to whom? - plus the undisclosed black contributions to the Exiliranians, that lot of Amanpours and other Sha stooges, working together(?), against each other(?) and who are their respective counterparts in Iran?

Then the little talked about insurrection in southern eastern Iran, who's who and what's up?

--
Being fascinated with the subject of Iran - ever since I read that bad piece of Propaganda by Normie Schwarzkopf about his life which included stuff about his childhood childhood in Iran (struck me as odd as a 10 year old, American military in Iran) - I never felt as clueless as to the who's who in Iran as I do now and in 2008....

Some turmoil was foreseeable and wouldn't have surprised me, but the show Mousavi+Rafsanji pulled off utterly stunned me. No way they aren't in with Khamenei. Neither would have ever had a candidancy if it weren't for some serious nodding in Quom.

Secret War with Iran - Ronen Bergman / Navid kermani - Iran, die Revolution der Kinder (The revolution of the kids)

were the last 2 good books I read about Iran, if my memory serves right. Very open for suggestions.


My 4 cents, most of this isn't even an asnwer to your post so sorry for misplacing it or waking your anticipation of a scholarly reply while getting nothing but this junk. bedtime. -

[EFerrari]

9. Oh, I agree. I don't pretend to grasp all the layers that are Iran.

It's like trying to separate layers of pastry. Have a good night!

[SkyDaddy7]

11. You are 110% correct!

It is a very complicated and twisted history! The scary thing is its not over and that means who knows what is to come?

[SkyDaddy7]

10. I totally agree!

For decades the USA regarded the regime as pain and nothing more. Europe was subjected to constant assassinations & car bombs throughout the 80'S & 90's and basically ignored it because these acts were not aimed at them but enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran...The Islamic Revolution. Basically authors, newspaper writers and members of the former regime.

Reagan & the USA was so hell bent on Communism they never thought about the long term ramifications of their actions...However, that is the common characteristic of Republicans today! They lack the ability to see in more than one dimension.

The Europeans, except the UK, were not meddling in Iran but instead were turning a blind eye to the car bombs, kidnappings & assassinations taking place all over Europe throughout the 80's-90's...They would catch these cold blooded murderers, put them on trial, convict and sentence them to life only to release them a few years later either for hostages kidnapped in Lebanon or because they feared retribution. The idea was these acts of violence and terrorism were aimed at enemies of the Islamic Revolution so many in Europe did not want to inflame the situation by cracking down on them. This is open history not some freeper idea.

There is a long very complex history since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 and beginning of the Islamic Revolution. In recent history Europe has taken a much softer stance for economic reasons...And yes for fear of retribution.

I am not saying you did but someone else decided the easy answer was to call me a freeper and move on...I wish the world was that simple. I wish people would engage in conversation with more Iranians and see how quick they call them Freepers for being upset with European countries warm relations with Iran! The technology being used to track down and kill the protesters is European. Siemens(German) Nokia(Finnish).

Europe does not want to take hit on their economy by cutting all ties with Iran. This is not a delusional freeper idea this is fact. Freepers think the only solution is WAR I disagree!

[tocqueville]

6. you're a freeper or what ?

there is no substance in what you say. It reminds of the "oil for food" crap.

Even if it's true that European nations have diplomatic ties with Iran, it's because they never found themselves attacked like the US did. If somebody has been humiliated by Iran since 1979, it's the US and not Europe. They kidnapped your embassy personal and screwed up your rescue missions.

Regarding "economic ties" they are not contractual, except the ones permitted by the UN sanctions, economic relations that are used within that range and which are of course used by US companies as well. The volume of trade between Iran and the United States hit $623 million in 2008. According to the US Census Bureau, the value of US exports to Iran reached $93 million in 2007 and increased to $537 million in 2008. However US imports from Iran decreased to $86 million in 2008, while the figure stood at $148 million in 2007.<140>
Top US exports to Iran include cigarettes ($73 million), corn ($68 million); chemical wood pulp, soda or sulphate ($64 million); soybeans ($43 million); medical equipment ($27 million); vitamins ($18 million); and vegetable seeds ($12 million). The value of cigarettes sold to Iran was more than twice that of the No. 2 category on the export list, vaccines, serums and blood products ($73 million). Probably the US is trying to smoke out Iran ???. Even if the trade between the EU and Iran has been much bigger historically, it's mostly oil import, but it has declined substantially the last two years. And the US never opposed that trade either.

The US and the EU have been politically on the same line regarding Iran even under Bush and economical relations are guided by those policies. Nobody in Europe is "scared" about Iran. And nobody "feeds" Iran. Nobody "feeds" North Korea but they are still capable to acquire nukes. Because priorities sin dictatorships go the the leadership and the military, not to the people's well-being.

Regarding the political stance, Europe had had an actually tougher stance on Iran than the US during the the recent election events. Besides France has made implicitely clear for Iran both under Chirac and Sarkozy that they would nuke the shit of it if they tried something. More than the US has done.

Skydaddy7's post is a blatant example of blaming on others US shortcomings. Nothing new.

[SkyDaddy7]

12. Freeper, huh?

First time I have ever been called that. I was not going to reply to your simple minded or should I say BLIND idea. But I wanted to tell you to try and talk to some Iranian people and see how quick you are to call them a freeper. If you want to discuss complicated matters try to reframe from name calling, it really does help.

[Dark]

5. I love the UK response: It is "harassment and intimidation of a kind which is quite unacceptable."

Ah, Britain.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/28/iran.britain.arrests/index.html?eref=ib_topstories

[Robb]

7. It is classic GB. nt

[MicaelS]

13. The Iranians keep pulling this shit

Because Carter let them get away with it in 1979. They think they're invincible, and to a certain extent they're right. They're going to keep doing it as long as they can get away with it.