US rules out freeing Iranians held in Iraq

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States on Wednesday ruled out releasing five Iranians held in Iraq, after Tehran warned it was unlikely to attend a May conference on Iraq's security unless they were freed.

Asked whether the United States would consider releasing the five, whom US forces detained in a January raid in northern Iraq, White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe replied: "No."

Johndroe also rejected charges from Iranian state television that the United States had severely abused an Iranian diplomat during a two-month captivity in Iraq.

"The United States was not involved in his detention, and any suggestion of torture is baseless," Johndroe said after Iranian television showed footage of Jalal Sharafi's wounds and called them proof of US torture.

The United States has long accused Iran of improperly meddling in Iraq, of aiding militias and other forces that have targeted US-led troops since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime four years ago.

US forces arrested five Iranians during a raid in northern Iraq in January, and has accused them of seeking to stir trouble in Iraq and has detained them ever since. Iran says the men are diplomats who were working for a "consulate."

Iraq has said the ministerial level meeting of its neighboring countries and world powers will be held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt between May 3-4.

"We told the Iraqi officials that as long as the Iranian diplomats are not freed, the idea of Iran attending any conference along with the United States will encounter serious problems and obstacles," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the hardline Kayhan newspaper.

Tehran has repeatedly called for their release. Washington has responded by saying they are being detained pending an investigation, although it has not announced any formal charges against them.

In the Sharafi case, Washington has steadfastly denied any involvement, and Johndroe welcomed his release when it was announced last week.

But Iranian state television on Wednesday showed footage of Sharafi in hospital, his feet badly bruised and body covered by sensors, as he was visited by the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Iran, Peter Stocker.

"The United States, whose officials make claims about human rights, drilled holes into the legs of Jalal Sharafi and there were signs of damage to his nose and neck," state television said.

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