Missing Iranian turns up in US
Source: Agencies |
July 14, 2010, Wednesday
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A MISSING Iranian nuclear scientist dramatically turned up at the Iranian interests section of Pakistan's embassy in Washington DC, and was quoted as saying he was kidnapped by US agents in a "disgraceful act."
But a US official, who declined to be named, said Shahram Amiri, who vanished during a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia more than a year ago, had been visiting the US and had decided "to return to Iran of his own free will."
Tehran has repeatedly accused the CIA of abducting Amiri, who worked for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, but ABC news had reported he defected and was helping the agency. Washington denied he was spirited away for nuclear secrets.
"My kidnapping was a disgraceful act for America ... I was under enormous psychological pressure and supervision of armed agents in the past 14 months," Amiri, who is in his thirties, was quoted as saying in a phone interview with Iran's state TV.
Iran is locked in a dispute with the United States and its allies over Tehran's nuclear development program. The West says it's designed to produce nuclear weapons while Iranian officials say it is to generate power.
The Amiri case provoked speculation about whether he had valuable intelligence about the Iranian nuclear program that the Americans wanted.
"Mr Amiri has been in the United States of his own free will and has decided to return to Iran of his own free will," the US official said, adding Amiri is awaiting documents from a third country through which he plans to travel to Iran.
Amiri's surfacing comes after a Cold War-style spy swap which took place in Vienna last Friday when 10 people charged in the United States with being Russian agents were exchanged for four held in Russia on charges of spying for the West.
"Amiri has been escorted by American forces to Iran's interests section in Washington," Iran's PressTV said.
Iran and the United States severed diplomatic ties after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Under the umbrella of the Pakistani embassy, the interests section, which is staffed by Iranians, provides consular services including information on travel visas.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said the handover by US agents was a victory over "American intelligence services."
"Because of Iran's media and intelligence activities, the American government had to back down and hand over Amiri to the embassy on Monday night," Fars said.
Iran summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran earlier this month and handed over documents which it said showed Amiri was kidnapped by the United States. US interests in Tehran are handled by the Swiss embassy.
But a US official, who declined to be named, said Shahram Amiri, who vanished during a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia more than a year ago, had been visiting the US and had decided "to return to Iran of his own free will."
Tehran has repeatedly accused the CIA of abducting Amiri, who worked for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, but ABC news had reported he defected and was helping the agency. Washington denied he was spirited away for nuclear secrets.
"My kidnapping was a disgraceful act for America ... I was under enormous psychological pressure and supervision of armed agents in the past 14 months," Amiri, who is in his thirties, was quoted as saying in a phone interview with Iran's state TV.
Iran is locked in a dispute with the United States and its allies over Tehran's nuclear development program. The West says it's designed to produce nuclear weapons while Iranian officials say it is to generate power.
The Amiri case provoked speculation about whether he had valuable intelligence about the Iranian nuclear program that the Americans wanted.
"Mr Amiri has been in the United States of his own free will and has decided to return to Iran of his own free will," the US official said, adding Amiri is awaiting documents from a third country through which he plans to travel to Iran.
Amiri's surfacing comes after a Cold War-style spy swap which took place in Vienna last Friday when 10 people charged in the United States with being Russian agents were exchanged for four held in Russia on charges of spying for the West.
"Amiri has been escorted by American forces to Iran's interests section in Washington," Iran's PressTV said.
Iran and the United States severed diplomatic ties after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Under the umbrella of the Pakistani embassy, the interests section, which is staffed by Iranians, provides consular services including information on travel visas.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said the handover by US agents was a victory over "American intelligence services."
"Because of Iran's media and intelligence activities, the American government had to back down and hand over Amiri to the embassy on Monday night," Fars said.
Iran summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran earlier this month and handed over documents which it said showed Amiri was kidnapped by the United States. US interests in Tehran are handled by the Swiss embassy.
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