Iran officials visit 5 Iranians held by U.S.

Jalal Shafari, an Iranian Diplomat kidnapped in Iraq, claimed he was held at a base and tortured while an American was present. At a news conference in April following his release, he showed wounds which were consistent with torture including holes allegedly drilled into his feet.

Iranian diplomats made the first consular visit on Saturday to five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in January, Iraq's foreign minister said, adding he hoped this would lead to more talks between Washington and Tehran.

The U.S. military says the five are linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and were backing militants in Iraq. Iran has insisted they are diplomats, demanded they be freed and sought access to the men.

"Three Iranian diplomats including the ambassador in Baghdad visited the five detainees in Iraq," Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Reuters, adding the visit lasted several hours.

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

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