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Iran offered to 'stop attacking' British troops for uranium deal
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by mudricky | February 20, 2009 at 05:13 pm
131 views | 9 Recommendations | 11 comments
An upcoming BBC documentary will reveal discussions that took place in private between Iran and the UK.
It was said Iran would stop attacking British troops if the UK got the West to drop objections to Iran's uranium enrichment project. It was at a time in 2005 when roadside bombings were regular in Iraq against UK troops.
The claims were made by UN ambassador Sir John Sawers.
The extent of Iran's role in arming and training those militias was uncertain.
Tehran denied a role, while British officials tended to hedge their accusations with references to 'circumstantial evidence'.
But now a senior British official has revealed that not only did the Iranians privately admit their involvement, they even made an astonishing offer to switch off the attacks in Iraq if in return the West would stop blocking Iran's controversial nuclear programme.
Sir John Sawers, currently Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, said Iranians raised the offer during informal private talks at a hotel in London.
"There were various Iranians who would come to London and suggest we had tea in some hotel or other. They'd do the same in Paris, they'd do the same in Berlin, and then we'd compare notes among the three of us," he told the BBC.
"The Iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in Iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear programme: 'We stop killing you in Iraq, stop undermining the political process there, you allow us to carry on with our nuclear programme without let or hindrance.'"
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René
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Fripouille
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (11)
at 01:52 on February 21st, 2009
And this blackmail comes from characters who believe that their end justifies their means, and who crudely think that the Brits might have actually allowed themselves to be bought off, a complete misjudgment about the motivation and committment of the UK. Did the Iranians also think that the Brits had no real will to fight?
at 02:09 on February 21st, 2009
Oh sure, why not?!!
Then in five years they'll be offering not to nuke Israel if we'd just be kind enough to dismantle it and send the jews to Siberia!
at 09:18 on February 21st, 2009
...Which implies that the Iranians are well-known for telling the truth?
Hamid52, that was a good joke you told us. Funniest thing I've read all day!!
Thanks.
at 19:25 on February 21st, 2009
Quick note, I wrote this story with Scottish/UK readers in mind like I always do but left out other nations because this story is about the UK.
The documentary clearly states that it was American toops who were also targerted at the same time as the Brits, as well as, but not as often as other nations who were also in Iraq.
at 00:52 on February 22nd, 2009
A few hours ago the speaker of the British Foreign Ministry in an interview with the BBC Persian denied receiveing such reports and called it "claims!". At the same time, the Iranian Foreign Affairs speakers renounced the claims and said that, contrary to the allegations, Iran has been active in all the conferences on security issues in Iraq, as security for Iraq is tentamount to security for Iran.
My interpretation is that, of course security for Iran and Iraq is different from what security means for British or American troops.
at 09:13 on February 21st, 2009
This should be a false story! One should be fool to talk explicitly like this. I never believe in this. Britons are well known for telling lies!
at 09:59 on February 21st, 2009
I am sorry for the comment. I ment the british diplomats are not reliable sources. I know them very well and solemnly believe in this. Any how, That does not imply that Iranians are telling the truth. Politics is like business! Anyone in any hotel in everywhere can tell you many things that does have any real roots. But this should be funny! that I come to you and with no diplomatic language tell you that if you do this, I'll do that. This is like the children language. I have no reason to believe that the world affairs are being conducted so unpolished!
Any how, for many people around the world BBC documentary is not as trustworthy as bible!
Thank you for this conversation.
at 14:32 on February 21st, 2009
As if any of us needed more proof, but does anyone seriously believe that they attacked or helped attack only British troops?
at 10:54 on February 22nd, 2009
...And your interpretation is correct in my humble point of view Hamid52. This is a fascinating subject, because we get a glimpse into what goes on, but I think this kind of bargaining and attempted bargaining goes on all the time......it's called "The diplomatic Ballet" in polite circles...
at 09:38 on February 23rd, 2009
Based on your "dplomatic Ballet", I guess all the news was invented by the British army when their marines were caught in Shat-ul-Arab by the Iranians and were jailed for few days. There are so many factions in Iraq. There are eleven Shi'ah factions and some of them oppose Iran and its rule in Iraq. So, it is not that much easy to judge on this.
at 10:24 on February 23rd, 2009
It's not "My" diplomatic ballet H52, it's what it's called all over the world. I'm sorry if you weren't aware of that.
As for the world-shattering Shat-ul-Arab incident, if that's the only thing bugging you out about British activity here, well we British can sleep well. And Iranian implication in arms-smuggling and IED training in Irak are child's play in comparison I suppose....?
Moreover, those soldiers were not formally charged or convicted by Iran..... Because of the very diplomatic ballet you seem to be implying Iran isn't implicated in.........!!! :)