Is he a free man or kidnapped by the CIA?
Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri has reportedly taken refuge at the “interests section” of the Pakistani embassy in Washington D.C., after Iran claimed he was abducted by the CIA in Saudi Arabia last year. A spokesman for the Pakistani foreign ministry in Islamabad said Amiri was “dropped off” there on Monday night. (Because the U.S. and Iran severed diplomatic relations in 1980, an “interests section”—separate from the main Pakistani embassy—handles Tehran’s interests in Washington.) The state media in Iran report that Amiri asked for a “quick return” to Iran, and have released videos that give conflicting messages about his supposed abduction. But U.S. officials reject claims the Amiri was kidnapped and say he was living freely in America.