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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran nuke scientist claims he's escaped from US security
2010-06-30
A man claiming to be an Iranian nuclear scientist whom Tehran alleges the United States kidnapped said he has escaped from US agents, in a video screened on Iranian television.

Shahram Amiri, the nuclear scientist, disappeared in June 2009 after arriving in Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage. Iran says the United States abducted him with the help of Saudi intelligence services.

ABC news in the United States reported in March that Amiri had defected and was working with the US Central Intelligence Agency.

The man in the footage shown on state television says: "I am Shahram Amiri, a citizen of the Islamic republic. A few minutes ago I 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.

"I ask Iranian officials and organisations that defend human rights to raise pressure on the US government for my release and return to my country.

Earlier this month, Iranian state television aired a video in which a man identifying himself as Amiri said he was abducted by US agents and was being held near Tucson, Arizona.

Iran said it would use legal channels to secure his release.

In response, Washington denied the Iranian accusations, with State Department spokesman Philip Crowley refusing to say whether or not Amiri was in the United States.
The BBC article on this has US officials saying the claim of kidnapping was 'ludicrous'.
Yes, but what did they say in Farsi?
Posted by:lotp

#1  And the message ends with "Wire $10 million for airfare." The IP address originated in Nigeria.
Posted by: ed   2010-06-30 15:21  

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