WASHINGTON, July 13 (UPI) -- An Iranian nuclear scientist who Tehran said was kidnapped by the CIA has taken refuge at Pakistan's Embassy in Washington, a Pakistani official said Tuesday.
Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said Shahram Amiri took refuge at the Pakistani embassy's Iranian interests section in Washington and is seeking to return home to Iran, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The spokesman said Mustafa Rahmani, head of the Iranian interests section, "is making arrangements for (Amiri's) repatriation back to Iran." Basit said neither the Iranian nor the U.S. government has asked Pakistani authorities about Amiri's demands.
Since Iran and the United States don't maintain diplomatic ties, the Pakistani embassy in Washington acts as host for the Iranian interests section, providing visas for travel to Iran and other consular services for Iranians in the United States.
Amiri disappeared during a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in June 2009. At the time of his disappearance, he worked at Iran's Malek Ashtar University, which has been tied to the Revolutionary Guards. The Iranian government charged the CIA kidnapped Amiri and the U.S. government has been silent, The New York Times said.
Iran's state-run satellite broadcaster, Press TV, said Amiri had "reportedly taken refuge in Iran's interest section in Washington, urging an immediate return to the country," the Times reported.
Press TV, quoting other state broadcasters, said Amiri sought refuge "a few hours ago."
The Iranian broadcaster quoted an "audio message obtained by Iran's intelligence sources" as saying the scientist was offered $10 million to appear on a television news channel to "announce that he had willingly defected to the United States, The New York Times said.
In June, Iran publicized what it said was a videotaped statement from Amiri allegedly proving its claim about the scientist's disappearance. However, a second videotape posted on the Internet showed a man who identified himself as the scientist claiming to be studying in the United States.
