An Iranian nuclear scientist whom Tehran says was abducted by US spies last year has taken refuge at Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, state media reported yesterday.
“Shahram Amiri, the abducted Iranian expert, took refuge in Iran’s interest section in Washington hours ago,” state television’s Web site said.
Mehr news agency said Amiri, who was “abducted by Americans, went to Iran’s interest section ... and asked for a quick return to Tehran.”
State news agency IRNA, meanwhile, quoted an “informed source” from the Iranian foreign ministry as saying that its officials had “contacted the Iranian interest section in Washington, which confirmed the report that Shahram Amiri had taken refuge there.”
Iran’s interests in the US are managed by the Pakistan embassy as Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic ties for more than three decades.
Neither the Pakistan embassy nor US State Department officials were available for comment.
Iranian officials have long said that Amiri was kidnapped by US agents from Saudi Arabia last year.
Iran last week said it had submitted “evidence” to the Swiss embassy that Amiri was abducted by US intelligence agents. The Swiss embassy manages Washington’s interests in Iran.
“We expect that based on the US administration’s obligations ... the US authorities will announce the results of their investigation regarding this Iranian national,” Iraninan foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanaparast had said.
On June 29, Iranian television screened a video of a man claiming to be Amiri and saying that he had managed to escape from the hands of US intelligence agents in Virginia.
“I could be re-arrested at any time by US agents ... I am not free and I’m not allowed to contact my family. If something happens and I do not return home alive, the US government will be responsible,” he said.
“I ask Iranian officials and organizations that defend human rights to raise pressure on the US government for my release and return to my country,” the man said, adding that he has not “betrayed” Iran.
US officials have dismissed the allegations in the Iranian broadcast.
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