American officials have rejected claims made by Iranian diplomat Jalal Sharafi that he was tortured “day and night” by members of the CIA after being captured in February while stationed in Baghdad. A White House representative dismissed the charges as “the latest theatrics of a government trying to deflect attention away from its own unacceptable actions.”


BBC:

“I was kidnapped on a Baghdad street while shopping by officials who had Iraqi defence ministry ID cards and were riding in American forces vehicles,” he said.

Mr. Sharafi said he was taken from the Karrada district to a base near Baghdad airport and questioned in Arabic and English.

“The CIA officials’ questions focused mainly on Iran’s presence and influence in Iraq,” he said.

Read more

Your support is crucial...

As we navigate an uncertain 2025, with a new administration questioning press freedoms, the risks are clear: our ability to report freely is under threat.

Your tax-deductible donation enables us to dig deeper, delivering fearless investigative reporting and analysis that exposes the reality beneath the headlines — without compromise.

Now is the time to take action. Stand with our courageous journalists. Donate today to protect a free press, uphold democracy and uncover the stories that need to be told.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG