TEHRAN, Aug 15 (AFP) - An armed Iraqi group threatens to "punish" an Iranian diplomat missing since August 4 unless Iran releases within 48 hours 500 prisoners still said to be held since its 1980-88 war with Iraq, Iranian state television said Sunday.
The Arabic-language satellite channel Al-Alam said the threat came from the Islamic Army in Iraq, which claimed a week ago to be holding Fereydun Jahani but had made no demands.
The same group is believed to have executed two Pakistanis last month for "collaboration" with the US-led occupation forces in Iraq.
"The government must respond within 48 hours, otherwise Fereydun Jahani will be punished," Al-Alam quoted the group as saying.
Iran has insisted for some time that it has freed all the prisoners of war it was holding following the bloody conflict with Iraq.
The Islamic Army of Iraq said on August 8 that it had detained Jahani "for stirring sectarian strife and for activities outside his diplomatic duties".
He had disappeared as he was travelling to the central Iraqi city of Karbala to open an Iranian consulate.
The Iranian government said Monday it was working around the clock to secure his release, but it believed he was "alive and well".
Jahani`s disappearance came amid an ongoing war of words between Iraq and Iran over the latter`s alleged interference in Iraqi affairs, which Tehran denies.