Iran Reformist Daily: Iranian Scientist Now In Intelligence Quarantine In Iran According to an informed source, on his arrival in Iran from the U.S., Iranian scientist Shahram Amiri was taken to an intelligence quarantine where he is now. Prior to being transferred to an unknown location, security agents took him to the Iranian state television studios, where he appeared in a nationally televised program. Many aspects of Amiri’s exit from Iran, his disappearance in Saudi Arabia, his arrival in the U.S., the production of four videos, and his eventual return to Iran are still unknown. The saga has been further complicated by the latest American claim that Amiri was paid $5 million to spy for the U.S. Shahram Amiri, who according to Iran's foreign minister is a “nuclear scientist,” was later referred to as an “ordinary citizen.” Upon his return to Iran, he called himself a junior researcher. But the CIA claims that Amiri was an American spy in Iran for years, while Iran is portraying him as a national hero who was able to escape from the claws of imperialism, much like James Bond and Tintin. According to Radio Farda, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in his latest statement about Amiri that he would not be hailed as a national hero until his claims were proven. Amiri was taken to Iranian national television headquarters escorted by three vehicles and accompanied by several individuals. He appeared on the country’s national channel on Saturday night. In the movie clip, Amiri repeated twice that he had been “kidnapped by Americans in Saudi Arabia and transferred to American soil from there.” He also claimed that he was forced into making his second video after being arrested by FBI agents following his first video. But Amiri did not answer the most difficult question of all. When asked how he was able to escape the American agents, he said, “Your program’s time limitation doesn’t allow me to answer that question in detail, but the related evidence and documents are available and would be published at the appropriate time.” He also said, “The Americans told me, confess that you were a spy so we can exchange you for our three spies in Iran.” People who watched the program noted that Amiri was visibly anxious and nervous during the interview, spoke slowly and was forced to look for the interviewer’s help several times to convey his messages. Source: Rooz, Iran, July 20, 2010
