I think it’s important that those critical of US/UK foreign policy, as I certainly am, remain as objective as possible in these situations. I think it’s apparent that Britain was caught completely unawares by this Iranian gamble, and are looking increasingly emasculated (possibly no bad thing) by it. It’s a move the Iranians will no doubt come to regret as Washington hawks makes the case for air-strikes against Iranian nuclear installations.

Also, I can’t imagine that, having seen his final days defined by international humiliation, Mr. Blair will spend his time after office doing anything other than making the neocon case for liberal intervention in Persia.

But you are precisely just using the old right wing “Us and them” trick. Other than that, you have it precisely. Both we and the Iranians are making groundless claims. Both governments are wrong. It doesn’t defend the Iranians to say that.