Given the complex nature of Iran’s power structure, this question is always worth asking. But it is not at all clear that the answer is particularly helpful in explaining the seizure of the British sailors nor the difficulty in obtaining their release. Governments, especially obstreperous ones that are not all that happy with their country’s status in the world, often behave in this way. You don’t need to solve mysteries about decision-making systems to see that.

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The second part of the question almost answers itself. "Is this surveillance justified if it helps stop terrorist operations?" As in the case of torture, if surveillance were actually to be proven to be successful in stopping terrorism and thus saving lives, it would be hard to mount arguments against it.

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