Thread by @GLNoronha

(1) Most things associated with Iranian military have a history in hostage-taking. So does the recently-sunk Kharg warship.

The vessel was originally ordered from the UK by Reza Shah's government in 1974 for the current-day equivalent of $550 million.

(2) The vessel was finished as the Islamic Revolution was taking place, delaying the transfer.

In 1980, 52 American diplomats were being held hostage by the regime. But the Iranians also took British businessman Andrew Pyke hostage on accusations of spying.

(3) The Iranians kept Pyke in Karaj Prison for 517 days. The UK refused to transfer the vessel until Pyke was released in 1982. In 1984, the UK transferred the Kharg, but without its standard armaments.

In Iran's arsenal, the Kharg has helped Iran take even more hostages.

4. In 2019, Iranian naval forces, including helicopters likely based on the Kharg, took the British tanker Stena Impero and its 23-person crew hostage for 2 months. In 2021, the Iranians took a South Korean tanker and 20 crew members hostage for 3 months.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1152601058750935041

5. As long as the Iranian regime is in power, they will take hostages. Today, they hold Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe hostage and demand $550 million from the UK for her release (the same cost as the Kharg, coincidentally).

Lesson: When we pay ransoms, more hostages are taken.

6/end: So when the regime-friendly pundits out there lament the loss of the Kharg or accuse the U.S./Israel of wanting a war, remember this: it is the Iranian regime that has sought hostility and war, and taken hostages for 42 years.

The sinking of the Kharg is great news.

(Typo in 1st tweet: I meant Mohammad Reza Shah, aka Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, not his father.)