THE UNITED STATES HAS ACCUSED IRAN OF MAKING CRUEL FALSE CLAIMS, THAT A PRISONER EXCHANGE HAD BEEN AGREED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, HOSSEIN AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN, HAD YESTERDAY, TOLD STATE MEDIA THAT A DEAL HAD BEEN STRUCK AND WOULD PROBABLY BE CARRIED OUT SOON.

BUT A WHITE HOUSE SECURITY SPOKESPERSON DENIED THIS, SAYING IRANIAN OFFICIALS DID NOT HESITATE TO MAKE THINGS UP, ADDING THAT THE LATEST CLAIM WOULD CAUSE HEARTACHE FOR AFFECTED FAMILIES.

WHILE INSISTING THE CLAIM WAS FALSE, THE US SPOKESPERSON SAID WASHINGTON WAS COMMITTED TO SECURING THE RELEASE OF AMERICANS HELD IN IRAN - NAMING SIAMAK NAMAZI, EMAD SHARGI AND MORAD TAHBAZ.