TEHRAN, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said Monday an Iranian diplomat kidnapped in Iraq Sunday was "unharmed and in good health."
Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Pakistani foreign minister Khorsheed Kassouri, Kharrazi said a special committee was set up at the ministry of foreign affairs to follow up the case of Fereydun Jihani and ensure his release.
"After we were informed of the kidnapping of the Iranian consul in Karbala we conducted contacts with the Iraqi government and the British as well as the U.S. representative office in Iran to pave the ground for the release of our diplomat as soon as possible," Kharrazi was quoted as saying by the Iranian News Agency, IRNA.
Jihani was abducted Sunday from the road connecting the Shiite holy city of Karbala to Baghdad. He was appointed Iranian consul at Karbala last Wednesday.
