Iranian says CIA offered $50M bribe

TEHRAN, July 15 (UPI) -- The Iranian scientist Tehran claimed was kidnapped by the CIA says he turned down a $50 million bribe offered by the United States, Iranian media reported.

Shahram Amiri, who Iran said was snatched by U.S. and Saudi agents 14 months ago during a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, said Thursday in Tehran U.S. officials were engaging in a "psychological propaganda" campaign against Iran through his abduction, Iran's government-backed Press TV reported.

U.S. officials said Amiri was paid more than $5 million by the CIA to provide intelligence on Iran's nuclear program, The Washington Post reported. Amiri doesn't have to return the funds, but may not be able to access them after terminating what officials described as significant cooperation with the CIA and returning to Iran.

"Anything he got is now beyond his reach, thanks to the financial sanctions on Iran," a U.S. official told the Post. "He's gone, but his money's not. We have his information, and the Iranians have him."

Amiri returned to Tehran early Thursday. He fled to Iran's interest section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington late Monday then left the United States Wednesday for Tehran.

During his remarks, Amiri said U.S. officials pushed hard to bribe him to advance their political agenda against the Iranian government.

"They (U.S. agents) told me they would give me $50 million and provide me and my family with proper living conditions in a European country if I reversed my decision to return to Iran," Amiri said.

He also criticized U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for claiming he came to the U.S. willingly and was free to leave, and denied reports he wanted to return to Iran because his family was pressured by the government, Press TV said.

"It is not true at all," Amiri said. "After my abduction, Iranian officials supported my family."