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I was tortured by CIA in Iraq, says Iranian diplomat

Robert Tait and Gaby Hinsliff

The U.S. history of renditions makes claim difficult to ignore

Tehran/London: An Iranian diplomat who was freed last week, two months after being seized in Iraq, has said he had been tortured by the CIA while in captivity at an Iraqi Government installation.

The claims by Jalal Sharafi on Iranian state television will lead to fresh speculation that the diplomat was freed as part of a deal to secure the Wednesday's release of 15 British servicemen seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

The allegations also come amid continuing political fall-out over the two-week hostage crisis in both London and Tehran, with both Iran's President Ahmadinejad and British Prime Minister Tony Blair being criticised for their behaviour during the stand-off.

While Mr. Sharafi's claims are very similar to those made by the servicemen on their return to Britain, the recent U.S. history of renditions, kidnapping and abuse make them difficult to ignore.

Though U.S. officials denied on Saturday any role in Mr. Sharafi's abduction, his release has led inevitably to suspicion that it was part of a secret deal that has also seen U.S. forces grant access to five other detained Iranians in Iraq.

Mr. Sharafi was kidnapped in February by gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms. When he was released on Tuesday, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the diplomat was in good health but "did not know who had held him."

Mr. Sharafi, however, says he was abducted by agents bearing Iraqi Defence Ministry ID cards. He said he was taken to a base near Baghdad airport, where he was questioned in Arabic and English.

"Questions asked by CIA agents were about the presence and influence of Iran in Iraq. They asked questions about the amount of aid Iran provided to the Government of [Iraqi Prime Minister] al-Maliki, Shia, Sunni and Kurdish groups," he said.

"When they were faced with my answers about the official relationship of Iran with the Iraqi Government and officials, they increased the tortures. Many days they tortured me day and night."

—

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2007

U.S. denies role

AP reports:

The United States denied any involvement in Mr. Sharafi's disappearance or release.

``Once they heard my response that Iran merely has official relations with the Iraqi government and officials, they intensified tortures and tortured me through different methods days and nights,'' Mr. Sharafi said.

``The United States had nothing to do with Mr. Sharafi's detention and we welcome his return to Iran,'' said a White House spokesman.

Iranian state television said signs of torture were still visible on Mr. Sharafi, who is being treated at an Iranian hospital.

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