Iran General NewsStory sales not good idea, says PM

Story sales not good idea, says PM

-

Press Association: Tony Blair admitted that allowing the Iran detainees to sell their stories had not been a “good idea” as he tried to quell a barrage of criticism. Press Association

Tony Blair admitted that allowing the Iran detainees to sell their stories had not been a “good idea” as he tried to quell a barrage of criticism.

The Prime Minister insisted everyone involved in the controversial decision had acted “completely in good faith and honourably”, but with “hindsight” they had got it wrong.

Speaking during a visit to Wales, Mr Blair said: “With hindsight was it a good idea? No … Do I believe it will happen again? No.”

The Premier’s admission came after Defence Secretary Des Browne took “full responsibility” for allowing the 15 military personnel to cash in on their ordeal – although he stressed the Navy had made the choice.

Mr Blair insisted he had not known about the decision until after it was taken, and said it was “time to move on”.

“Look, I did not actually know about the decision until after it was taken, but really that is not the point,” he said. “The Navy was trying to deal with a wholly exceptional situation where the families were being pursued by the media to sell their stories.

“The Navy took the view that it was better to manage the situation than let it happen. Now, with hindsight, was that a good idea? No. But precisely because people would then misrepresent that as somehow the Navy encouraging people to sell their stories which they were not at all.

“Do I believe it will happen again? No. But were people acting completely in good faith and honourably? As far as the Navy is concerned, they were. We have had days of this now and it is time to move on.”

Tory leader David Cameron has demanded details of who took the “calamitous” decision and when – warning it had caused “great damage to our armed forces”. The Liberal Democrats also insisted answers were needed to key questions about the “fiasco” – with both parties demanding a probe into the original capture of the Naval personnel.

Many people believe the handling of the aftermath of the crisis has gifted Iran a major propaganda victory.

Latest news

Land Subsidence in Critical Conditions in Isfahan

Mehdi Toghyani, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), pointed to the occurrence of land subsidence in various...

Iran’s Actual Inflation Rate Higher Than Official Stats

The state-run Donya-e-eqtesad newspaper, in a report analyzing the "general sentiment" regarding inflation in 2023, has stated that households...

Iranian Workers’ Monthly $136 Wages Can’t Cover $500 Expenses

The lives of a significant portion of the Iranian population are marked by uncertainty, largely because the Iranian economy...

Iranian Nurses Earn Twice Their Wages in Ride-Hailing Services

Reza Aryanpour, a member of the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Health and Treatment Commission, highlighted the growing trend of nurses...

Iran: Unprecedented Record of 152 Million Liters of Gasoline Consumption Per Day

On March 19, Iran set a new historical record in gasoline consumption with 152 million liters consumed in one...

Iran’s Youths Have Highest Unemployment Rate

The Iranian regime’s Eghtesad News website reported that data from the Statistical Center of Iran shows that the youth...

Must read

Iran authorities hang 10 men

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jan. 19 - Iranian authorities on...

Iran sets new conditions on maintaining nuclear freeze

AFP: A senior Iranian official said Sunday that Tehran...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you