This image made from a video released by the Baraa Brigades and accessed Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, purports to show Free Syrian Army soldiers guarding a group of Iranians abducted a day earlier and promising more attacks on Iranian targets in Damascus, Syria. Armed men in the video identify themselves as members of the rebel “Baraa Brigades” and say that at least one of the 48 captives was an officer of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards. They claim that Iranians were on a “reconnaissance mission” in the capital Damascus at the time they were abducted. Iran says they are pilgrims who were visiting a shrine. (AP Photo/Baraa Brigades via AP video) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS HANDOUT PHOTO
Iran: US responsible for Iranians seized in Syria
This image made from a video released by the Baraa Brigades and accessed Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, purports to show Free Syrian Army soldiers guarding a group of Iranians abducted a day earlier and promising more attacks on Iranian targets in Damascus, Syria. Armed men in the video identify themselves as members of the rebel “Baraa Brigades” and say that at least one of the 48 captives was an officer of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards. They claim that Iranians were on a “reconnaissance mission” in the capital Damascus at the time they were abducted. Iran says they are pilgrims who were visiting a shrine. (AP Photo/Baraa Brigades via AP video) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS HANDOUT PHOTO
AP /
August 7, 2012
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it’s holding the U.S. responsible for the fate of Iranians kidnapped in Syria.
The state IRNA news agency says the ministry summoned the Swiss envoy in Tehran late Monday to stress that Iran expects Washington to use its influence to secure the Iranians’ release. The Swiss look after U.S. interests in Iran since Tehran and Washington have no diplomatic relations.
Syrian rebels snatched 48 Iranians off a bus just outside Damascus Saturday. Iran says those abducted were pilgrims visiting a shrine but their captors claimed in a video broadcast Sunday they were on a ‘‘reconnaissance mission.’’
Syria’s close ally Iran has criticized the U.S., Turkey and some Gulf states for supporting the Syrian rebels. It has also asked Turkey and Qatar to help return Iranian captives.
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