The provocations just keep coming. By Naser Karimi for AP, with thanks to Mackie:
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s ambassador to Russia renewed a threat Iranian officials made earlier this week, saying 15 British sailors held by Iran could be tried for violating international law, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported Saturday.
Gholam-Reza Ansari told Russian television Vesti-24 on Friday that Iran had launched a legal investigation of the British sailors. “They will be tried if there is enough evidence of guilt,” Ansari was quoted by IRNA as saying.
Britain’s Foreign Office said it was checking the claim that the sailors were facing trial, but noted that the ambassador’s comments didn’t alter their view of what was needed to resolve the standoff.
“This doesn’t change our position, we have made it perfectly clear that our personnel were in Iraqi waters and we continue to request immediate consular access to them and their immediate release,” said a spokeswoman for Britain’s Foreign Office, speaking on customary condition of anonymity in line with government rules.
“We continue to request immediate consular access to them and their immediate release.” Ahmadinejad must be shaking.