Iran Requests to Visit the Five Detainees in Iraq

Iran Envoy Allowed Visit the Five Detainees in Iraq

www.forbes.com

Iran's state media reported Wednesday that an Iranian envoy will be allowed to meet five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in northern Iraq since January - a possible sign of further progress toward ending a British-Iranian standoff.

The report appeared as Britain and Iran were entering a sensitive phase in the efforts to free 15 British sailors and marines captured by the Iranians last month in disputed waters of the Persian Gulf.

A separate Iranian diplomat seized two months ago by uniformed gunmen in Iraq was released and returned Tuesday to Tehran. Iran had blamed the U.S. for the abduction, a charge American authorities denied.

(visit the link for the full news article)



Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Iranian Diplomat Released, A Positive First Step?

[edit on 2007/4/4 by JacKatMtn]

[edit on 2007/4/4 by JacKatMtn]

The wheels are turning, despite President Bush's repeating "No Quid Pro Quo", this could be another step in gaining the release of the UK captives being held in Iran.

www.forbes.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

BBC news report on the possible visit:

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6525545.stm]Iran 'access' to Iraq detainees [/uurl]

Iran's state news agency says an envoy is being given access to five Iranians detained by US forces in Iraq.
The unconfirmed Irna report said Iran's embassy in Baghdad was sending a representative to see the detainees.

Tehran maintains the five, seized from the consulate in Irbil, northern Iraq, are diplomats, but the US accused them of providing support to insurgents.

Some commentators have viewed Iran's arrest of a UK naval crew in the Gulf as a reaction to the Irbil detentions.

Quoting "reliable sources", Irna gave no details of when any meeting was meant to take place.

The story is still unconfirmed, the article goes on to say that

The US military in Iraq said it was checking the report.

This report mentions the possible Iranian visit to their soldiers/diplomats held in Iraq:

U.K., Iran hold high-level talks on Britons

TEHRAN, Iran - Britain said on Wednesday it had held talks with a senior Iranian official about 15 captured British sailors and Syria said it was mediating in the crisis, fuelling hopes that a diplomatic solution can be found.

The high-level contact marks a step forward in attempts by both countries to resolve the 13-day stand-off that has heightened Middle East tensions and spooked world oil markets.

Here is the latest on the possible Iran visit of the five detainees held by the US in Iraq:

LINK

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Wednesday it had received an "informal" request for an Iranian consular official to meet five Iranians who have been held in Iraq by U.S. forces since January.

U.S. military spokesman Major-General William Caldwell said the five were suspected of being intelligence agents. Iran says they are diplomats and has demanded their immediate release.

"What has occurred so far is that the ICRC has in fact visited with those five people who are in detention," Caldwell told journalists in Baghdad, referring to the International Committee of the Red Cross. "Among them was an Iranian who is a member of the (ICRC) delegation ..."

"An informal request has come in for a consular visit and it is being assessed at this time," Caldwell said.

I know this isn't a UK issue but...

Iran wouldn't allow consular access for two weeks to the Royal Navy personnel, but they then expect it themselves?

Originally posted by Muppetus Galacticus
I know this isn't a UK issue but...
Iran wouldn't allow consular access for two weeks to the Royal Navy personnel, but they then expect it themselves?

I think these two are very much entwined, we shall see soon just how connected these situations really are, IMO.

has Iran used teh word `hostages` yet for there kidnapped personel?

Another article concerning the five detainees in Iraq:

U.S. weighs Tehran's request to visit 5 Iranians held in Iraq

BAGHDAD: An American military spokesman said Wednesday that the United States was reviewing an informal request from the Iranian government for an envoy to visit five Iranians imprisoned following an American raid in northern Iraq in January.

The spokesman, Major General William Caldwell 4th, said at a news conference that the request was "being assessed at this time." He added that the Americans had conducted the raid to apprehend people suspected of carrying out "illegal operations" in Iraq.

The general also said the International Committee of the Red Cross had recently been allowed to visit a group of prisoners that included one of the Iranians.

Well the wheel is turning slowly, but movement has been made. While a consular visit has been ruled out, there will be access to the 5 detainees.

The question is who gets to see them...

Any link to the freed UK 15 is still denied

U.S. to Give Iran Access to 5 Detainees

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - U.S. and Iraqi officials are working to give Iran access to the five Iranians detained by American forces in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.


He did not link the move to Iran's release of 15 British troops after nearly two weeks of captivity.

In the first detailed discussion of the plan by a senior U.S. official, Gates said the U.S. has no intention of releasing the five Iranian prisoners. They were captured during a January raid in northern Iraq.

The Pentagon chief said a consular visit by Iranian officials is not being considered.