Since Iran gains nothing for kidnapping the 15 sailors, why do you think they did it?

Question

I am clueless.

Also, why did the adjacent British battleship sit around and do nothing when they were kidnapped? You cannot just sit around and let things happen like this, you need to engage any military that interferes with your operation.

Answer 1

Leverage for their atomic power argument ! ! !

Answer 2

There is good reason to believe both parties in this incident. While I was first to yell "Tonkin!", it seems unlikely that the British knowingly trespassed into Iranian waters. It also seems unlikely that the Iranians acted out of malice. As far as i can understand, the capture was prompted by the pressure the US has put on Iranians in Iraq. Condy and Dubya have stated that they would consider the capture of Iranians in Iraq as legitimate.
A look at a map will show the absurdity of an anglo country telling Persians that it is illegal for them to help their neoghbors, while it is legal for the anglos to obliterate civilization there. Iran acted with zealous legalism because it has been forced to withdraw to its frontiers in a manner inconsistent with neighborly niceties. The British presence is of cource an occupying presence and should beware not to upset Iraq's neighbors.
We are all very lucky that Iran is a civilized country. On the possibility of war, and having a legitimate reason to be obtuse, President Ahmadinejad acted most benevolently. He has spared us all from yet another disastrous adventure, and yet more blowback.
For those yelling propaganda. I do not see anything wrong with a head of state acting diplomatically beyond his obligations. It is true he is seeking a better image, after all a smear campaign has been directed at mistranslating his speeches. On the other hand, the use of 9-11 and the regretable death of 3000 people as a propaganda tool to justify a bloody crusade on the ME, well that is shameful.
The West has much to learn from the Persian. After all, this country has been around for what, 250 years?
Google Persia or even better... check out where the city state was born. It really shows some ignorance on the part of westerners to pretend to show the first civilization how to rule its population.

Answer 3

They did not gain nothing, I am sure they will keep hold of the equipment and the two boats they took. Plus they might gain some political power by appearing to stand up to the western countries.

I don't think the battleship could have done anything, I think it was around 7 miles away so they scrambled a helicopter which arrived too late to stop the sailors being taken.

Answer 4

My understanding is that the British sailors were in disputed waters. The waters are claimed by Iran, but the claim is contested. I believe that while the British sailors believed they were in Iraqi waters, they were in fact in an area that Iran claims as Iranian waters. The Iranians saw this as a border violation, and did what any country would do if its border was violated by armed forces from another nation. Their presence was further complicated by the fact that, according to the reports I read, British ships were patrolling the area and sailors had been boarding ships in the area in search of contraband or other evidence of aid to the Iraqi insurgency. The sailors were not 'kidnapped', nor were they, as propaganda would have it 'hostages'. That's nothing but political posturing. If we're going to use those terms for the British sailors, then we must, by comparison use it for foreign suspects apprehended and detained by British and American forces in Iraqi waters.

Answer 5

Its all propaganda. They made their point by kidnapping the 15 individuals. It shows that inspite of everything going on in Iraq and Afghanistan the country in the middle is still alive and kicking. Iran has won the round by the looks of things as well.

Answer 6

It proves they take their territorial boundaries very seriously.

The British military announced 3 days ago they were reassessing how to conduct their naval operations inside the Gulf to limit the risk of a possible repeat of this incident.

So Iran does gain as it shows that it has military force monitoring its Persian Gulf boundaries, it kept their captives in humane conditions and together as a group (fish & chips, good lighting, all together (no prison bars), flowery backgrounds, chess ect) [US probably would have put them in orange jumpsuits and hooded them in cages] and can still act decently when negotiations are done with respect and diplomacy... instead of UK's rush to get everyone to say they are "deplorable".

Answer 7

They did gain something. They demonstrated their warlike attitude. They humiliated some foreign nationals. They inflamed anti-Western feeling among those willing to believe their lies. And they made themselves look nice by "pardoning" the unoffending British Sailors and Marines.
As for why the British let it happen, I think the Iranians were sneaky, lying in wait to attack; and the Brits were not quite as careful as they need to be, because the ship they were searching didn't seem too dangerous.

Answer 8

They did it first to use as propaganda in their own country, which they would have done even if the Brits did have a chance to fire back and defend themselves; and second, to prove that they could get away with it. They live by their own set of rules and use the rules of the international community to their advantage.

Answer 9

Must be all for the glory and ratings over a one man's own dreams in creating the loss of peace on earth goodwill to men in planet of apes.
Maybe will change his mind and try to create peace on earth goodwill to men for the good of mankind in planet of apes.
Wonder can he sing this song 'He's ain't heavy, He's my brother" from faraway land in planet of apes.
See he can reach out and extend a helping hands for the good of mankind in planet of apes.
Can come out with flying colours.
Then he is the Son of God and not the Son of a dirty old man in planet of apes.

Answer 10

The reason nobody did anything when they were captured is because the allies are trying to manufacture a reason to go to war with Iran and they need a catalyst. They were probably hoping Iran would kill 'em all. Research the Gulf of Tonkin incident. History will repeat itself, watch.

Answer 11

They saw an opportunity and took it. It's a win/win situation for the Iranians. If they release the sailors, they look nice and humble, very willing to deal. If they are attacked, they plead helpless victims just trying to protect their own soil from tresspassers. They will never admit that the sailors may have not trespassed either.