TEHRAN - An Iranian diplomat who was held in Iraq for weeks claimed U.S. intelligence agents tortured him "day and night" during his captivity.

Jalal Sharafi appeared on Iranian television being treated in Tehran by doctors for what he said were injuries he received as he was tortured by Americans in Iraq, the BBC reported.

The United States has denied having anything to do with Sharafi's abduction or detention.

The head of the International Red Cross in Tehran visited Sharafi and confirmed that he had marks on his feet, legs, back and nose. But Peter Stoeker said he couldn't say whether the marks were the result of torture, the BBC reported.

Sharafi, the second secretary at the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad, was abducted in Iraq in February and released April 3.

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