Brit Overlanders Detained in Iran.

[gbags]

A Brit couple who were detained have recently been named.

https://bbc.com/news/articles/c626p6pz7xlo

[Godspeed]

What an awful situation to be in, but, thoughts on travelling to a country against home office advice, is that not a little daft?
I thought that makes insurance invalid, and recriminations for an accident financially could be horrendous.
I do hope they get released soon and safely though.

[johnnyboxer]

They should have thought first and not travelled to Iran against FCO advice
They gambled
It didn’t pay off

[PaulinBont]

The FCO advice couldn’t be clearer:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

It's really sad, because people I know who have been there say 80% of the population are lovely and very welcoming to westerners. The other 20% are the government and police.
Until such time as the terrorist-supporting Islamic government there is eliminated, it's a no-go, sadly.
This is a country where a teenager who reported her rape was raped again by the police and hung for 'immorality' on the orders of a judge. This is the country that sponsors Hamazzz and Hizzzbollah . This is the country developing its own atomic weapons.
Back in the 1970s, it was civilised. But a load of lefties decided to overthrow the pro-western government and create a socialist utopia. Instead they got a return to the midddleages under the Eye-atollahs.
So sad.

[garyboy]

Some say the UK is going the same way?

I was amazed that noraly .. itchy boots .. entered Iran, and Iraq.. without any problem. In fact, welcomed and given free meals and bike servicing.

I couldn't understand it .. and then This .. 2 brits .. detained.. could be for several years .. or more .. in a hell hole?

I couldn't understand it .. until I realised that Norali .. is Not a brit.

[Magnusson]

I don't know if you are familiar with Lois Pryce. She was hassled by the Iranian security police. According to her, the people of Iran as some of the nicest you can hope to meet. The government security and morality agencies are to be avoided. Interesting mix in a country that has practically never seen real peace.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

A British passport is hostage bait ATM.
'Bad actor' states know that the chance of facing genuine retaliation from the UK is zero.
The Royal Navy has eight frigates and six destroyers. Of these at any one time two of each will be in repair and two 'working up' to go to sea operationally. We are estimated to have just one nuclear hunter-killer sub available at the moment (the other six are either in build or refit). In the 1990s, the RN had 15 hunter-killers in total, supported by about 12 diesel-electrics. I've left the 'bombers' that carry the nuclear deterrent out.
At the time of the Falklands Conflict the RN had about 50 frigates and destroyers (admittedly each far less capable than today's ships) and was stretched to the limit.
The Army is so small it can barely defend itself. In the occupation of Iraq, it mostly just defended its own bases and had to retreat from Basra under cover of darkness.
The RAF tries to protect the whole of UK airspace with 4 fighter aircraft: 2 in Scotland and 2 in eastern England.
No disrespect to anyone in the forces, past or present, but they are 'top heavy' with too many senior ranks and civil servants and not nearly enough other ranks and junior officers.
DEI recruitment policies appear to have backfired, putting off many from the demographics which traditionally formed the core of the forces.

[qcnr]

Some say the UK is going the same way?

I was amazed that noraly .. itchy boots .. entered Iran, and Iraq.. without any problem. In fact, welcomed and given free meals and bike servicing.

I couldn't understand it .. and then This .. 2 brits .. detained.. could be for several years .. or more .. in a hell hole?

I couldn't understand it .. until I realised that Norali .. is Not a brit.

She doesn't have a British passport, so no problem. Arriving wit a British passport is probably akin to saying I work for the CIA and MI6, but I'm just here for a holiday, honest...

[gbags]

I can back up the Lois comments.
I went through Iran back in the 80’s, in from Turkey and out to Pakistan. The Islamic Republican Guards on the border were pretty scary but people were great.
A family put me up in Tehran for about four days and showed me around, couldn’t have been nicer. All along the way, people went out of their way to help.
The current regime are a blight on a lovely country and population.