BAGHDAD, April 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. military confirmed on Wednesday receiving an "informal" request for an Iranian consular official to visit five Iranians who have been held in Iraq by U.S. forces since January.

"An informal request has come in for a consular visit and it is being assessed at this time," U.S. military spokesman Major General William Caldwell told journalists in Baghdad.

The United States says the five are linked to Iran's hardline Revolutionary Guards and says they were providing support to militants in Iraq. Tehran denies the charge and says the men are diplomats.

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