US denies Iranian accusation of torture

Tehran: The United States has denied an Iranian diplomat's accusations that the CIA tortured him during his two-month detention in Iraq, Iranian state television reported.

Jalal Sharafi said the CIA questioned him about Iran's relations with Iraq and assistance to various Iraqi groups and was tortured. He was freed on Tuesday.

"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," state TV quoted him as saying on Saturday.

State television said signs of torture were still visible on Sharafi, who is being treated at an Iranian hospital. However, it did not show images of the Iranian.

Sharafi's comments came a day after Iran freed 15 British sailors, who said they had been subjected to psychological pressure under Iranian capture.

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

"The Iranian propaganda machine has been in overdrive since they paraded the British sailors around on TV. This is just the latest theatrics of a government trying to deflect attention away from its own unacceptable actions," Johndroe added.