I had hoped that Iran’s apparently unlawful capture of British prisoners would end quickly and peacefully. It appears, however, that tensions are rising and that this may turn into a full-fledged hostage crisis reminiscent to a previous Iran hostage crisis that lasted for 444 days and where a much younger Ahmadenijad played a different but prominent role.

“The important thing for us is to get them back safe and sound, but we can’t enter into some basis of bargaining,” Blair said. “What you have to do when you are engaged with people like the Iranian regime, you have to keep explaining to them, very patiently, what it is necessary to do and at the same time make them fully aware there are further measures that will be taken if they’re not prepared to be reasonable.

“What you can’t do is end up negotiating over hostages; end up saying there’s some quid pro quo or tit for tat; that’s not acceptable,” he said.