April 01, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12, 1428

LONDON, March 31: On Saturday, in its editorial the left-of-centre Independent blamed wrong diplomatic moves by the UK and sabre-rattling by the US for Iran’s increasing stubbornness.

It has advised London to seek EU’s assistance in resolving the problem because the Community in view of its economic leverage in Iran was in the best position to influence Tehran. On the other hand the right-of-centre The Daily Telegraph accepts that an invasion of Iran is not an option, but raises the possibility of tactical strikes. And according to the Daily Express UK’s response must be vigorous but measured

“Iran must be made to see sense and return our servicemen unharmed, immediately. At a time like this, level-headed diplomacy is a better option than sabre-rattling,” an editorial in the Daily Express said.

And the Financial Times wants the situation to be defused with a mix of firmness and finesse. Escalation, by either side, with the narrow waters of the Gulf already boiling with warships, carries huge risks, cautions the FT editorial.

“Iran still needs to be confronted with a reasonable menu of rewards and penalties for its behaviour by a united international community. But this is not the battleground,” concludes the editorial.

With Iran upping the ante with the passage of each day since it captured 15 British Naval personnel nine days ago and the UK still not very sure how best to respond to the emerging situation, the affair is seemingly developing into a potentially explosive confrontation between two countries already engaged in a row over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

On the face of it, it appears as if the UK wants to continue with the diplomatic option for the time being either because force as an option is not available to it at this point in time or perhaps because the British government does not genuinely want to add to the already volatile situation in the region by sending the usual expeditionary force to make Tehran realize what most here believe to be its madness.

The media by and large has cautioned against the use of force.