Iranian Diplomats Release from Iraq

Jalal Sharafi, an Iranian “diplomat,” was abducted on February 4^th of this year by men dressed in Iraqi military uniforms and has been released from Iraq.

When initially abducted, Iran held the U.S. responsible and demanded his release. The U.S. military was not aware of the event.

According to the NY Times:

“IRNA, a government news agency, provided no details in an English language report about the circumstances of his release, which Iran has been demanding along with the release of other Iranians still in detention in Iraq.”

In depth reporting from two IRNA articles are:

“Abducted Iranian diplomat released”

“alal Sharafi, Second Secretary of Iran's Embassy in Iraq, who was abducted in Baghdad on Feb 4, was released Tuesday. An informed source told IRNA today that Sharafi is to return to Tehran this afternoon.”

“Released Iranian diplomat returns to Tehran”

Jalal Sharafi, second secretary of Iran's Embassy in Iraq, who was abducted in Baghdad on February 4, arrived in Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport after being released on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and a number of the ministry's officials welcomed Sharafi at the airport.”

The release comes at a time when (victims of a misunderstanding) from NYT:

“heightened tensions between the Iranian government and Britain over the capture of 15 British sailors who are being held in Iran.”

New developments in the standoff:

“Prime Minister Tony Blair said in an interview on a Scottish radio station, Real Radio, that the next 48 hours would be “fairly critical” in resolving the dispute and that the release of the sailors could still be secured by diplomatic efforts.”

Also Islamic Republic of Iran President Mahmoud “Momo” Ahmadinejad has postponed his planned address to reporters until Wednesday; in depth from IRNA:

“President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's press conference, previously scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed to Wednesday. The president will speak to domestic and foreign reporters in his first press conference in the new Iranian year, started March 21. He is to outline Iran's latest stance on different issues, regional and international developments in particular.”

The “outline” covering the latest stance, as well as regional and international developments should prove to be quite eye-opening in the just woke up sense.

Think we’ll hear anything new?

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