When the Hezbollah angle didn't work as expected; when the quoted out-of-context anti-Israel rhetoric didn't sell so well; when the nuclear weapons ambitions argument didn't pass muster; when the rumors of aiding the Iraqi insurgents failed the popularity test what options is a tyrant, bent on imperial control and domination, left with?

Well, maybe sending in some Limeys into Iranian waters and allowing them to be captured and using that as a pretext to move the Imperial Star Destroyers err... I mean, aircraft carriers within striking distance of Iran and start conducting aggressive aerial attack simulations!

Now, the "evil" Empire simply waits for a subtle mistake from the Iranians to launch their offensive.

Sad part of this whole thing is, the US (and the British government) are really hoping that Iran would actually do something as stupid as harming the British sailors (sail-people?). This would gain much needed support for the planned Imperial aggression.