TEHRAN - Iran is taking a more aggressive posture in the tense diplomatic standoff over 15 British sailors it is holding captive. The Iranian government today said it will put the captive sailors up for auction on eBay unless the British government acknowledges that the sailors "are worthless dogs who were seeking salvation in Iranian waters."Iran dropped an earlier demand that the British government acknowledge the sailors are "worthless, limp-wristed, sissy dogs."
If the sailors are placed on eBay, experts predict that Iran might try to work in concert with North Korea to insure that it is the successful bidder, in flagrant violation of eBay's policy. North Korea typically goes to great lengths to avoid negative feedback on eBay since it obtains most of the material used in its illicit nuclear weapons program from sellers trading on the Web site, so the move could prove risky for it in the long run.
The United States has kept a low profile in the British hostage stand-off. A State Department spokesman said, "This looks more and more to be a matter for eBay to resolve."
