As any diplomat will tell you, even the most ghastly of situations can be resolved over a nice cup of tea . . . or possibly something stronger.

Martin Pilcher, Hertford, UK

As an English person, I would like to know why the Iranian's were able to seize British naval personnel so easily, espically when the waters were apparently not 'Iranian'.

And if the British naval personnel were in Iranian waters, why the hell weren't they better prepared for this kind of situation.

I am only a student and even I know it is not sensible to send troops into a dangerous terrority like that without some sort of back up.

I can't help feeling that we (Britain) did not help ourselves in this matter. And I believe that something like this was bound to happen at some point.

Tensions are frayed and both countries media's are not helping the situation. Both side want whats best for them.

ER, Oxford, Oxon

Mr. Boyle, there is only one Britain, those people who inhabit these islands and whose armed forces are in the Gulf are British.

Mr Murph, You must have an awfully big chip on you schoulder to get from "Iranian action in retaliation for American action" to "Everyone blames America" Crikey, Old Boy , didn't anybody tell you the Britsh are America's allies?

As Allies the Iranians would consider the British fair game for retaliation ,but who said anybody blames America?

N Kilgallon, London,

Anyone who imposes fear and the intension of violence in a situation like this, for instance the very fact Iran was thinking of putting the Marines onto Trial which of course, if they were found guilty is punishable by death is a fine example. Of course America would have started 'WW3' by now, just to make 15 of their own force safe. Of course Israel tried to do the same thing a little while ago by FORCE, does anyone know the fate of those soldiers???? And how many people died as a consiquence

Chris, Essex, UK

I find all this nonsense about British dishonour, cowardice etc. rather tiresome. It should be considered a triumph If the British Government, with the implicit support of it's allies succeeds in resolving this matter without bloodshed , especially when one considers the people with whom they are dealing.Furthermore Nelson and Wellington enjoyed rather different circumstances. In those days Britain did rule the waves and the lives of ordinary servicemen were sold very cheaply. The modern British people are under no illusion that this remains the case.
By Churchill's time most of the Empire had been lost and what was left was given up whilst Great Britain practically bankrupted herself singlehandedly trying to save modern civilisation. (The "special relationship" didn't get "special" for the first three years)

N Kilgallon, London,

Yes Murph we do blame it on the Americans and our poodle Prime Minister. We shou;ld never have been in Iraq in the first place. And why does Murph think it is OK for the Americans to detain people in the hell hole of Guantanamo for years?

Peter Berman, Wiveliscombe, Somerset

Farrukh

If an Iranian boat were working under a UN mandate in French or other neighbouring waters, the response would have been to notify them they had crossed into British waters and ask them to leave - the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) says that you cannot arrest someone for merely straying into your waters.

I'm sure the Iranians knew this, but the fact they detained these people and are using them for propaganda purposes shows that they have ulterior motives rather than just policing their waters.

Francis, Bristol,

Maarten from Amsterdam; your argument bereft of logic, mounts insupportable insult.

To impugn British servicemen as "chicken" is grossly unworthy; and ignores a display of dignity, resolution and discipline under pressure.

You may more sensibly have queried the sense of over-conservative rules of engagement which denied the Royal Marines any fair chance in the first place. Were they likely to be faced with a coordinated, determined and disciplined response the Revolutionary Guards would have been unlikely to chance their arm.

Richard Adams, Canberra, Australia

Maarten,Amsterdam. How old are you , 15? How dare you call our Military Chicken from your very dangerous computer monitor..
What the hell is a decaling empire?? we havn't had an Empire for years. Go back to your computer games.

PhilpH, , Cotland

"First, Britain should not have been in Iranian territorial waters."
On what basis is Robert Boyle making that allegation? Territorial waters are notoriously difficult to measure to the foot. If it is correct that they were arrested on the Indian ship that position has been verified. Was that ship in or out of Iranian waters?

Dee, Bournemouth, UK

What is Britain trying to achieve with this silence? The world now thinks Iran must have been right all along and Britain is an impotent and decaiing empire with chicken military personnel.

Perhaps this is the truth and the fastest way to get the personnel back but the longtime costs could be enormous.
These incidents could happen a lot more often for instance.

Maarten, Amsterdam,

OH MY GOD!!!!!...so this is all our fault!!(re: the Independent story). Your servicemen are in Iraq waters legitimatly...but the Iranians convince you they were'nt (I guess only their GPS systems work correctly). And now when push comes to shove..neither of which you can do...its blame it on the Americans...and that damn Bush for all of this!!! I should have known...it was only a matter of time. It wouldn't surpise me to read in your press that we're to blame for the latest Tsunami. I can see the headline now: "Hundreds perish in Miconesia Tsunami.....American nuclear sub fart to blame."

Murph, Madisonville, USA/Kentucky

Robert Boyle appears to have missed the point. I am sure that if the hostages had been in Iranian waters an apology would have been made immediately. But the British are sure that they had not strayed into Iranian waters. For the government to 'own up' to something that was not true could have had serious consequences both for the hostages and future relations with Iran.

Gill, London, UK

It is clear that neither side want war, or even for things to be blown out of proportion. As their security chief last night said,' if a foreign military enter your territory do you give them chocolate?' WHat would we do if an Iranian military boat entered our waters?

This 'war on terrorism' nonsense with its gungho approach is causing more unnecessary tensions in the world today. As people we need to stop embedding fear into one another and address the real problems not with force but with dialogue and education. To expect anyone anywhere to change overnight is just as foolish as the foolish act of those whom you expect to change.

A little comprehension and continued dialogue can be the only way that we as a world will find a way to live together more peacefully and bolster on another through trade, and other means. It is easy to find excuses to bring out the guns, but it takes integrity to use our minds and to respond tactfully.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

the more i look into this story, the more i support military action.
..these people will never learn...

ed, edinburgh, uk

Robert of Churchville, You attribute logic and reason to men who have none. This was a Guy Ritchie snatch-and-grab. The Iranians even SAID they were going to do it, and they did, just like the Israeli soldiers last summer, so please stop equivocating on their behalf. As to mistakes, whose are worse? The British operating under UN mandate in the Gulf, or the Iranians who parade their unlawful "repentant" captives before the world in a fashion reminiscent of Stalin's show trials? My only question is, will the British choose dishonor or war? At this point I'd have to say dishonor. Like you said.

TheMadKing, Nashua , NH USA

I would like more information from the British Military as to the circumstances of the capture of the 15 British soldiers by Iran. It seems ludicrous to send a patrol out on a little dingy without adequate back up from a naval friget

rob, toronto, Canada

The Captain and officers of HMS Cornwall should be cashiered immediately. 15 of a warship's crew snatched from under their noses without a shot being fired. Unbelievable!

Richard, Rolvenden, England

I believe both sides have made errors in this situation. First, Britain should not have been in Iranian territorial waters. Secondly, Iranian officials should not have taken the intruders hostage as a first course of action.
Here is the way I believe it should have been handled. Once the Iranians recognized that the Britains were in their waters, the Iranians should have taped the incident while they escorted the Britains out of Iranian waters. The tape should have been shown to the world. The Iranians should have warned the Britains that the next time they intruded in Iranian waters it would be dealt with more severely, possibly arresting the intruders. Both countries have escalated something minor into something major. Why?
Only they can answer that. At this point, the Iranians should release the hostages and the Britains should apologize for intruding in Iranian waters. What if the tables were turned? Why can't Britain apologize? No country is perfect and there was a mistake made.

Robert Boyle , Churchville, USA/ Maryland

It looks like fear has lent wings to the boisterous Ahmadinejad and his slobbering henchmen. They need guarantees that we will not do what we did not do, we are not doing and we will not plan to do... Iran needs to be renamed Moronia.

John Tanner MIRC, Halifax, Virginia USA