The White House on Wednesday rejected any linkage between Iranians in US custody in Iraq and what it called the "unfortunate" detention of Iranian-Americans in Iran. "The Iranians held in Iraq are going to go through a process that determines their status. That process will take some months," said US national security council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
"They have consular access and ICRC (the International Committee of the Red Cross) access and in their detention is not subject to discussion as it relates to the unfortunate holding of Iranian-Americans in Iran," said Johndroe. Meanwhile, Iran has again formally demanded that the United States release five Iranians arrested by US forces in Iraq and has called for it to pay damages, the ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday.