Iran has reneged on its pledge to release the female soldier seized among 15 Britons the nation accused of entering its territorial waters during a sea patrol. Things are a bit hairier than a simple territorial dispute, however. Britain asked the U.N. to issue a press release “deplor[ing]” the marines’ capture (how British is that?). In response to that action, Iran reneged on its promise to release Leading Seaman Faye Turney. Iran has now released a letter written by Turney, asking the U.K. to begin removing its troops from Iraq. Blair has called the soldiers’ release the “only outcome” to the crisis, and suggests he will “step up the pressure.” But Iran doesn’t respond well to pressure, so this conflict has the potential to turn into something big.
