Iran doe snot hide the intention behind its actions: the influential Guardian Council, which is practically synonymous with the highest authority there is, ayatollah Ali Chamenei, gets quoted by Germna media with having said that the tanker action is in direct "retaliation" for the British seizing of a tanker at Gibraltar. This terminology was used, says the news -
diplomatic sweet-talking and hide-and-seek playing was not even tried.
Whatever it is worth, it was reported that Germany formulated a "strong" an d "determined" reply that demanded the release of the British tanker. I am sure that this made a strong impression in Teheran.
