The US Wednesday welcomed Iran's release of 15 British naval personnel, but remained evasive about the fate of five Iranians held incognito since being seized in Iraq three months ago.
President George W. Bush "welcomes the news," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, after Tehran announced it was releasing the 15 captured on March 23 in Gulf waters.
But the US administration was at pains to deny any link between the release, and reports Wednesday that five Iranians captured by US forces in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil in January would be granted their first consular access.
On Tuesday Bush appeared to rule out any deal to win the Britons' release, saying he agreed with British Prime Minister Tony Blair "that there should be no quid pro quos when it comes to the hostages."
"There is no link whatsoever. Neither we nor the British nor anyone else, as far as I know, has made that link," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said when asked if there was a connection between Wednesday's events.
"It would be pure speculation on my part to try and ascribe motive to any of this stuff. I simply don't know and I don't think anyone does short of the Iranians," the spokesman added.
Blair also insisted Wednesday there had been "no negotiation" to secure the freedom of the captured British sailors and marines.
"Throughout we have taken a measured approach: firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting either," he said.
But he thanked Britain's partners, including "friends and allies in the region," for their efforts, amid reports that he had called on Syria to help mediate with Iran.
The surprise announcement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the 15 were being freed coincided with the release on Monday in Baghdad of Iranian diplomat, Jalal Sharafi, kidnapped at gunpoint in Iraq in early February.
Iranian state media also said earlier Wednesday that the five Iranian officials captured in January in Iraq were expected to receive their first visit by an Iranian diplomat.
But US military spokesman Major General William Caldwell told reporters in Baghdad that a consular request to visit the five was still being examined.
"There is a consular request and it is being assessed," he said.
The five were arrested by US forces in Arbil in Iraqi Kurdistan on January 11, with the United States accusing the men of being members of the elite Al-Quds brigade of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
In both cases, the US administration has denied any linkage to the release of the British sailors and marines.
The United States was not behind the kidnapping of Sharafi and therefore was not responsible for his release, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tuesday.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said however the foreign ministry had been working to secure Sharafi's release for some time saying the ministry had pursued the matter with "all the relevant authorities."
"We approached, contacted, followed that case with both Iraqi entities and American entities with the same vigor to ensure the release," the minister said.
But asked about the Sharafi case, McCormack expressed surprise at any US involvement: "Certainly not to my knowledge. I don't think we have had or have anything to do in any respect with this case."
As for the timing of the announcement of the Britons' release and the granting of consular access to the five detained Iranians, the State Department said it was pure coincidence.
The US administration has so far remained vague about the fate of the five, who Theran has said were diplomats working in a consulate office in Arbil.
"They are being treated as any other security detainee in Iraq," McCormack said.
"Let's remember why they are being detained. They are being detained because they were involved in networks that were providing EFDs (explosive foreign devices) to individuals in Iraq for using those EFDs against our troops."
Washington has accused Iranian groups of arming Iraqi insurgents with sophisticated explosives capable of penetrating armored vehicles and fomenting trouble in Iraq.
But despite repeated questions neither the State Department or the Pentagon has provided answers as to where the five Iranians are being held, their status or the charges which could be leveled against them.
