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Iran dailies see British plot in captives saga Edmund
Blair The conservative press called for a tough line. A moderate daily counseled caution. But Iranian dailies agreed on Tuesday that Britain was scheming and had sent its sailors into Iranian waters to pressure Iran. After national holidays that left news stands bare for two weeks, most Iranian dailies returned to cover a row with Britain over 15 detained naval personnel that blew up in their absence. Britain's actions are rarely taken at face value in Iran, where the former imperial power has a long history of involvement in Iranian politics, fuelling deep suspicions that cut across social classes and political factions. "The illegal entry of British soldiers to Iran's territorial waters was a preplanned scenario aiming to put more pressure on the Islamic Republic," said Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hardline Kayhan, quoted by another conservative daily, Resalat. Iran says the Britons, detained on March 23, were seized in its territory but Britain says they were in Iraqi waters. The two sides are now engaged in sensitive diplomacy to try to resolve the standoff. "The arrest of these 15 caused this wave of propaganda against Tehran," wrote the moderate daily Etemad-e Melli, also referring to Britain's "preplanned scenario" to justify "non-diplomatic measures" against Iran in a dispute over Iran's nuclear program and what London calls Iran's meddling in Iraq. Iran dismisses such charges. 'NO POWER ANYMORE' Distrust of Britain's intentions became entrenched during the "Great Game" in the 19th century when Britain battled with Russia for control of Central Asia. In the process, Iran was carved up into competing spheres of influence. More recently, Britain was seen guiding the 1953 CIA-plot to topple popular Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. And some Iranians will still take visitors aside and explain, in all sincerity, how London is pulling the strings in Washington. But the conservative newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami warned Britain that it could not flex its muscles as in the past. "It is not clear why British officials do not have a clear idea and understanding about revolutionary Iran and the Iranian nation and still have not understood the reality that the lion of Great Britain has no power anymore," it wrote. Where newspapers differed, however, was on the next steps, reflecting a debate between hardliners who see an opportunity for a show of strength against a Western power and moderates who think the row will only complicate Iran's problems abroad. "A legal and firm confrontation with the British aggressors is the only way to pursue," wrote Jomhuri-ye Eslami. But Etemad-e Melli called for cooler heads, saying: "Iran should be wise and avoid adopting any measure which could provoke international public opinion against Iran and should neutralize Britain's preplanned scenarios." |
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