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Ear to the Ground

Missing Iranian Scientist Case Causes Diplomatic Discomfort

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Posted on Jul 13, 2010
Amiri
bbc.co.uk

Lost and found?: One of three videos that have surfaced shows the man purported to be Shahram Amiri.

Well, this is awkward: After months of conflicting reports as to his whereabouts, missing Iranian scientist Shahram Amiri has apparently turned up in the Iranian section of Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, D.C. But was he kidnapped?  —KA

BBC:

A spokesman from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Abdul Basit, told the BBC that Shahram Amiri was seeking immediate repatriation to Iran.

In June videos purportedly of Mr Amiri but containing contradictory information on his whereabouts emerged.

The US rejected Tehran’s claims that it was behind Mr Amiri’s disappearance.

Iranian media say Mr Amiri worked as a researcher at a university in Tehran, but some reports say he worked for the country’s atomic energy organisation and had in-depth knowledge of its controversial nuclear programme.

ABC News reported in March that he had defected and was helping the CIA, revealing valuable information about the Iranian nuclear programme.

But earlier this month, Tehran said it had proof he was being held in the US.

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By call me roy, July 17, 2010 at 11:46 am Link to this comment

The part of this story that is so typical: the five million the government paid him, they froze the money. Another sad story. A broke defector.

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By rico, suave, July 15, 2010 at 11:12 am Link to this comment

diamond:

I said, “He’s on the way home to Iran.” Was I wrong? Was that not a “fact”? I made no comment about the CIA, fact or fiction.

The following is not a fact, but a question for you: If you were an accused spy would you rather be a guest of Savak or the CIA?

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By diamond, July 14, 2010 at 1:43 pm Link to this comment

The only thing I ever believe, Rico, is facts. So far you’ve failed to produce any on a raft of topics. And would the CIA do bad things - like deceit and lying and kidnapping? Yes they can, and do and have for decades. Who do you think runs the black prisons all over the world and who do you think flew kidnapped people all over the world to be falsely imprisoned and tortured with absolute impunity? Would that be the CIA or the Iranians? You might have a brain, Rico, but you don’t like to use it, do you?

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By rico, suave, July 14, 2010 at 6:29 am Link to this comment

He’s on the way home to Iran. Any odds on how long he survives?

And diamond. You’re believing ABC News now?!

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By Arabian Sinbad, July 13, 2010 at 7:36 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Was he kidnapped?!

What kind of foolish question is this?!

Of course, he was kidnapped by official terrroist America or Israel and forcefully brought to Washington. And all this time since his kidnapping, official terrorist America has been practicing one of its most characteristic “virtues;” which is pathetic lieing to both Americans and the whole world. 

Another reason to ask, “Do they hate our freedoms or they hate our state-terrorism, evil,lieing and trouble-making everywhere in the world?!

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By James, July 13, 2010 at 5:15 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Everybody on US side keeps claiming that this guy was here on his own free will. If this is the case then he either got a visa or he sought asylum or he is an illegal alien and if not how did he get here maybe he was kidnapped! If he was here on his own free will then produce documents that show when he applied for visa etc. Those who are familiar with the visa process for Iranians know that it is quite a lengthy process and a very hard task that sometimes requires several trips to a US embassy outside Iran. So either tell us how he got here or shut up.

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By diamond, July 13, 2010 at 12:49 pm Link to this comment

He he. Those CIA guys have such a great sense of humour.

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