[JURIST] Iranian diplomat Jalal Sharafi has claimed that CIA operatives tortured him after he was kidnapped and detained in Iraq [BBC report] two months ago. According to Iranian state television Saturday, Sharafi, who was released last week, said CIA officials asked him about Iran's relationship with Iraq and various Iraqi groups and then tortured him when he said Iran [JURIST news archive] had only an official relationship with Iraq [JURIST news archive].

US officials say the CIA did not play a role in Sharafi's disappearance or detention. AP has more.