There are a number of things that look odd.

1. In these days of SatNav it is hard to imagine that the position of the vessels is not readily determinable to within yards. But we do not know whether the Iranian position is that the UK vessels were the wrong side of an agreed border, or that the border is somehere other than where others think it is (Iceland, anyone?)

2. Do we know what the Iranian force was? Were the UK forces really hopelessly outgunned.

3. Even if the UK forces were hopelessly outgunned, so what? Isn't fighting and dying what soldiers do - part of the job description? Or did they have orders that precluded fighting an invading force (for, if the event was in Iraqi water, that is what the Iraninans were). By way of comparison, what would an Israeli force have done if they stopped a truck to inspect for weapons near but outside Gaza, and a large Hezbollah or Hamas force jumped them?

4. Why did the Cornwall, with all of the modern technology at her command, not know of the approaching attack force before the event happened, and warn the UK force in time for it to depart in haste (those inflatables are often VERY fast)?

5. Why, indeed, was the Cornwall not between the dhow and Iranian water?

6. Did the Iranian vessels approach from Iranian water, or had they previously been, unlawfully, in Iraqi water?

7. How is it that, in these days of spy satellites, we do not even seem to know what the Iranian force was?

8. Why have the Iranians no fear, it would seem, of the technically superior UK armed might in general?

9. Why have the Iranians no need, it would seem, of any economic or other benefit Iran currently receives from or via the UK?

10. Is it right that there is really nothing we can do, other than wait for the diplomatic ransom demand to arrive?