I agree sending in the SAS for a hostage rescue would be totally out of the question.  I seem to recall reading though, how the SAS was given a "shopping list" of people to "retrieve" prior to the commencement of hostilities in the Persian Gulf war.  This included an Iraqi General who had knowledge of troop positions in the south, and an airport manager who had access to the lights of an airfield that was to serve as an LZ for forces staging in central Iraq.  The list contained 5 or 6 targets total, and the SAS returned 6 days laters with everyone on the list, without the Iraqis none the wiser.  I think if the  SAS could go "shopping" for some high value  personnel on  the Iranian side, perhaps the Iranians would realize they were out of their league and submit to a backchannel hostage trade.

I gather from the posts a rescue mission is out of the question?

Yes Drazhar , it 's pretty much out of the question .

Cheers .

I agree sending in the SAS for a hostage rescue would be totally out of the question.  I seem to recall reading though, how the SAS was given a "shopping list" of people to "retrieve" prior to the commencement of hostilities in the Persian Gulf war.  This included an Iraqi General who had knowledge of troop positions in the south, and an airport manager who had access to the lights of an airfield that was to serve as an LZ for forces staging in central Iraq.  The list contained 5 or 6 targets total, and the SAS returned 6 days laters with everyone on the list, without the Iraqis none the wiser.  I think if the  SAS could go "shopping" for some high value  personnel on  the Iranian side, perhaps the Iranians would realize they were out of their league and submit to a backchannel hostage trade.

""The list contained 5 or 6 targets total, and the SAS returned 6 days laters with everyone on the list""

Do you know more about this ? Where were the targets , etc ?
And : it is any truth in it ?

Cheers .

Yes, very much so. There are rumors though that Rainbow 6 is hot on the trail.