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Iranian diplomat abducted in Iraq

Atul Aneja

Tehran holds America responsible for envoy's safety

— PHOTO: AFP

SECURITY CLAMPDOWN: Iraqi police commandos search a car at a checkpoint inside Baghdad's Shia Muslim neighbourhood of Sadr City on Tuesday.

DUBAI: Tensions between Iran and the United States have heightened following the kidnapping of an Iranian diplomat in Iraq.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Jalal Sharafi, the embassy's second secretary, was abducted from his car on Sunday in Baghdad's central Karrada district. The kidnappers wore Iraqi army uniforms. The incident apparently took place outside Iran's state-owned Bank Melli, which has opened a branch in the Iraqi capital.

Iran has said that the Americans would be responsible for the safety of its diplomat. The incident has further deteriorated Iran's relationship with U.S. Ties between the two were severely strained in late December when American Special Forces snatched five Iranians from an official building, flying the Iranian flag, in the Kurdish city of Erbil, in northern Iraq.

U.S. denies involvement

The Americans have also recently stepped up their accusations about Iran's involvement in aiding guerillas that target U.S. troops.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mohammad Ali Hosseini told the Iranian news agency that a group affiliated to Iraq's Defence Ministry, "which works under the supervision of American forces" had picked up Mr. Sharafi. "The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the American forces in Iraq responsible for the life and safety of the Iranian diplomat," he said. The kidnappers wore the uniforms of Iraq's Commando Battalion, which operates under U.S. supervision. The Associated Press, quoting an Iraqi official, said that a gun battle and a chase had followed the abduction. However, the car, which carried the diplomat, sped away. A U.S. military spokesman denied involvement of American or allied troops in the incident.

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