Iran Refusing Offers to Mediate Hostage Crisis
By Andrew Cochran
Highly reliable sources report that officials in the government of a Scandinavian country have offered to mediate the Iran hostage crisis, but the offers have been refused thus far by the Iranians. Also, a well-placed journalist in Washington and a knowledgeable source in Istanbul cannot confirm press reports of a possible meeting between Turkish officials and the British hostages.
The Turkish government is trying at every level to persuade the Iranians to release the hostages. Turkish military officials are petrified that they will be dragged, kicking and screaming, into a military fight on the US/UK side because of their NATO obligations, which could be triggered by this act of war.
You can see the British Royal Navy's description of the H.M.S. Cornwall, and you can read the official British Ministry of Defense statement with charts of the Cornwall's position in Iraqi waters and the Iranians' position.
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