Iranian Says He Was Tortured in Iraq

Iranian diplomat Jalal Sharafi, 40, in a wheelchair answers a question during a news conference at Iran's Foreign Ministry in Tehran, Iran Wednesday, April. 11, 2007. The Iranian diplomat has accused the CIA of torturing him during his detention in Iraq. Claims of torture have not been independently verified. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian) (Hasan Sarbakhshian - AP)

U.S. Embassy officials in Baghdad did not immediately answer calls seeking comment Wednesday. Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said Saturday that "the United States had nothing to do with Mr. Sharafi's detention and we welcome his return to Iran."

A U.S. intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the CIA denies any role in the capture or release of Sharafi. The official dismissed any claims of torture, saying "the CIA does not conduct or condone torture."

Johndroe accused Iran of making the claims to deflect attention from its seizure of 15 British sailors in the Persian Gulf. The sailors were released last week.

Tensions have risen between the U.S. and Iraq over Washington's accusations that Tehran is providing deadly weapons and training to militants attacking U.S. forces in Iraq, a claim Iran denies. President Bush has said the U.S. military would aggressively pursue Iranian agents who stir up trouble in Iraq.

In January, U.S. troops seized five Iranians in northern Iraq, saying they were providing money and weapons to militants.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested Iran may boycott a conference on Iraq next month unless the five Iranians are freed. The conference in Eygpt, which the United States is expected to attend along with delegates from Britain, France, Russia, China and Arab nations, aims to build regional coordination to help stem violence in Iraq.

"We have reminded Iraqi officials that until the time of the Iranian diplomats' release, Iran's attendance in any conference on Iraq, should the U.S. attend, would encounter problems and barriers," Araghchi was quoted as saying by the hardline Kayhan newspaper.

On Wednesday, however, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the conference is a priority for Iran. He told the state news agency that Tehran would prefer that the meeting be held in Baghdad but that issue could be worked out.