What does the Iranian government plan to achieve by keeping the navy men and woman in their custody?

Answer 1

The Iranians are making a show of strength. Britain is a nuclear power and could wipe out all their oil fields and major cities, if they chose to do so. Iran is standing nose to nose with them to say that they are not afraid. If Britain will not risk military action over its own soldiers, how likely are they to start fighting over Iran’s nuclear program. And once Britain swallows their pride the first time, it will be easier the next time. The tougher a deal Iran is able to pull off with Britain, the harder it will be for Britain to stand up to them next time.

Answer 2

My apologies, michaelmapp_technician. I should have expected such answers would have been forthcoming for such a question. I would like to correct those answers by giving you a highly educated answer.
In the history of the middle east you will note a few things that have been, and as a result of past history, will most probably be that way in the future.
One of those things that is common in the middle east is a complete lack of maturity in letting old issues go away. That's right. The middle eastern people won't let the old pass away. They dont' like change.
Secondly, the middle easterners lie to one another, but more so to us westerners. For example, the Palestinians. There has never been an actual Palestinian country. Therefore, they do such things as usurping Israeli country land and claiming it's always been theirs.
The correct answer for the question then, is: middle eastern countries(primarily muslim and/or arabic) lie and cannot tolerate change. Add those two together and you find a war always coming up. Iranians cannot tolerate the western forces so close, since in the past, we have never been there in such force as exists today.
VOte me for best-and longest winded-answer)

Answer 3

I can only think that the Iranians would like to see the UK bow to their pressure and apologies, this would make the UK look weak and therefore make Iran look like the power nation in the Middle east. Bizarre really as we are very hard nosed when it comes to saying sorry and they should know that we would never bow to those sorts of pressures.

I for one would never expect the UK to apologies as this would change the way Iran views the world and our relationship with all countries that have denounced this vile act of parading captures on TV with pressure to say what the Iranians would like the their country to hear to keep the pending issue of the Nuclear issue off of the front pages.
Sad to see a nation that I am sure does not have the same view as the dictatorial regime listen to this propaganda

Answer 4

British Navy was fishing in troubled waters;Why? The attitude
of British Government and British Navy is reprehensible.
The fundamental rule of law "trespassers are to be procecuted"
They are claiming they are not trespassers but there is no doubt
they are on the fringe of trespassing.;now it is evident that
the British Navy was stamping other man's feet to start a
quarrel. You see how the European Union and Mr.Bush
everybody wants that these people are to be released.You
see how the colonialist powers are ganging up against Iran
and the NAM countries Quatar,Indonesia and South Africa
has voted with the colonialist powers in Security Council.
for sanctions against Iran.Mr. Geelani of Kashmir has been
denied visa for medical treatment as he believes in violence
but as Salman Haider ex foreign secretary states in The
Statesman[31/3] "USA is not yet weaned from violence as an instrument of policy in the Middle East.
As GITA says "you are to attack the cause" and Iranian
authorities are attacking the cause.

Answer 5

The Iranian prime minister is very unpopular in Iran as he has not delivered on the election promises that he made in the run up to the election.
His policy is very anti America and Briton and for him it is a very simple case of repeating the same tactic as used with the America hostages back in the 1970's.
He is currently trying to tempt the UK or America to carry out either tactical strikes or attempt a special ops recovery of them.
The result of both would be disastrous for the situation in the Middle East as any attack on Iran would result in him being vindicated that Iran needs nuclear weapons.
I think that the best thing that the UK can do is tuff it out and continue with diplomacy and continue with the inspections of the ships as normal.

Answer 6

Their stated reason for it is to please the Iranian public who feel that the Iranian Gov't is not tough enough responding to countries that make life difficult for Iran via sanctions, etc. The Iranian president said this publicly on the weekend - it's propaganda. I suspect they also want to have some sort of threat to hang over us to try to get us to back down on persuing and enforcing said sanctions.

Answer 7

The whole thing is a dog and pony show. The Bankster's want this war. They will destroy the American people and the Iranian people with this war. Life will be changed forever. Hold on to your hat! We have sociopath's at the helm.

Answer 8

They are half way there already with confusion at every level in the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence as to what to do. What is happening now is what this government is best at,"Talking a good fight".

Answer 9

Status with the populations of other Muslim countries, which will some day all be part of the Pan-Islamic Empire, stretching from the western border of China to the Atlantic Ocean, with its capital in Tehran.

Answer 10

they want the release of Iranian hostages the Americans have. But the Americans wont hand their hostages back, so the Iranians are keeping the British.

They see, The USA, Britain and Israel as the same ....