Which only underscores the perception of British weakness — for few will believe that the British didn’t know about this, and yet still didn’t act. From the BBC:
Royal Navy personnel seized by Iran were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity, the crew have said.
They were lined up while weapons were cocked, making them “fear the worst”, one of the 15 freed sailors revealed.
The crew were told that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured that they faced seven years in prison, a press conference heard.
Opposing their captors was “not an option,” they said.
And after their capture the 15 marines and sailors were subjected to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure, they said.
Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, explained why they had not fought back when confronted by the Iranians while carrying out a routine operation.
“We are aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place and why we allowed ourselves to be shown by the Iranian authorities on television.
“Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option”.
“Had we chosen to do so then many of us would not be standing here today. Of that I have no doubts”.
Had they resisted there would have been a major fight and “one we could not have won.”