Humanitarian Gesture and Positive Development
Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Saturday that Tehran has welcomed the U.S. Navy’s rescue of 13 Iranian fishermen held by Somali pirates in the northern Arabian Sea. Mehmanparast called the rescue operation by US forces a humanitarian gesture and a positive development [IRNA, 7 January].
In the present context this positive development should be welcomed by both sides. The US was lucky to have the opportunity to show goodwill to Iran without pissing off their warhawks, while Iran should take the opportunity to calm their rhetoric a little....
ReplyDeleteThe rescue of Iranian sailors by American forces is considered a humanitarian gesture.
ReplyDeleteIran's navy has rescued various foreign ships from the hands of pirates ... but never publicized that.
Basically, rescuing trading and fishing boats from the hands of pirates in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden is considered a completely normal issue.
How amusing that the Islamic regime threatens to attack the US navy and the US navy rescues Iranian crew from the Somali pirates in the Arabian sea.
ReplyDeleteMay I ask what are the Somali pirates doing in the waters near the Persian gulf and not being challenged by the Iranian navy or the IRGC?
I think the Islamic regime should be more concerned in protecting Iranian ships in the Arabian sea rather than trying to challenge a super power knowing full well they will lose.
The crew of this ship wasn't even Iranian , they spoke Urdu not Farsi :
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/world/middleeast/iranians-tell-of-six-weeks-of-fear-with-somali-pirates.html
@anon
ReplyDeleteIt is not amusing when considering the US has sent troops to israel...
@mat
Actually i clearly remember at least two times where the fars news agency reported the capture of pirates and/or simple protection of a vessel... this was used as a way to prove iran's naval efficacity... indeed less international attention was given to those events, given the world media aren't on Iran's side, but Iran did not save any american sailors (granted not many americans sails in those waters!)
@all
both actors will make publicity stunts. remaining objective might be hard but it is worthwhile when one considers himself to be autonomous.. I do not support the islamic regime, and I hate the US (admitting ones subjectivity is the first step to objectivity) yet most people hear blindly repeat one sides rhetoric... doing so is a lack not only of imagination but also of critical thinking, brighten up guys!
Anon. jan. 7th 6.35 pm
ReplyDeleteYou either can not read English, or did not read the whole article, or don't know anything about Iran.
The fishermen are from Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchestan in South East part of Iran and the local people there speak Urdu as well because of the proximity to Pakistani side of sistan and Baluchestan.
Anon 7:22 PM
ReplyDeleteCan you explain to me what has Israel got to do with this US naval rescue of the Iranian crew from the clutches of the Somali pirates?
@anon 10:59
ReplyDeleteJust mentioning that Iran isn't the only one issuing threats and taking hostile actions... though this rescue I believe is a good occasion to try and calm the situation, it does not however make the US a good and great world actor