CIA tortured me, Iranian diplomat says

Toronto Star | Apr 7, 2007

Envoy held for several months in Iraq U.S. denies any role

An Iranian diplomat freed two months after being kidnapped in Iraq has said he was tortured by U.S. forces while in captivity, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported today.

Iran has previously blamed the U.S. military for his abduction but U.S. officials have denied any role. Today the U.S. military again denied playing any part in kidnapping the diplomat, or in his alleged torture.

The Iranian’s comments follow the release of 15 British troops from Iran, where they say they were ill-treated.

“Jalal Sharafi, in an interview with Fars, explained how he had been kidnapped and tortured severely by American forces with the help of (Iraqi) agents … under the supervision of the CIA,” Fars News Agency reported.

“He showed reporters the marks left by torture on his body that are now being treated by doctors,” said Fars, which is considered close to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms kidnapped Sharafi in February. An Iraqi government official said at the time Sharafi had been seized by 30 gunmen wearing the uniforms of an Iraqi army unit that often works with the U.S. military in Iraq.