The Sudden End to the Iranian/British Crisis Raises a Few Questions

First and foremost, it is terrific news that the 15 British sailors, taken as hostages by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are safely home on British soil, but the very quick, sudden turn of events that prompted their release has raised a few questions worth discussing.

It has been reported that the actual turning point in the negotiation process was an exchange of diplomatic notes, that led to this peaceful conclusion that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described as a "gift" in honor of the Prophet Muhammed's birthday and Easter. However, after reading several accounts of this over the last few days I can't help but think it may have had something to do with some internal "power struggle" issues that Iran might be dealing with that we may or may not hear more about in the near future.

Since the taking of the hostages in the first place was unprovoked and not nearly definitive enough for Iran to justify their actions, the sudden release just serves to suggest that Iran blinked first since they didn't get either the apology they sought from the British government, nor an admission of guilt about being in Iranian waters as opposed to being in Iraqi waters as the British government has maintained all along.

Also, I for one applaud the fact that instead of extending a "diplomatic olive branch" to Iran in appreciation of the hostage release, Prime Minister Tony Blair has instead used the opportunity to emphasize once again publicly that is the belief of the British government that the Iranian regime is backing terrorism both with agents and finances. The recent road side bombing on Thursday April 5th that killed four British soldiers, the very day of the hostage's release gave Blair the opportunity to stay on the offensive while in his words "make no allegation" directly as to Iran's positive involvement. However, in an interview with Bloomberg news, Blair was quoted was saying "There are elements of the Iranian regime that are backing and financing terrorism in Iraq."