AP: The State Department confirmed on Thursday that an Iranian-American missing in Iran for more than two weeks has been detained by authorities of the Islamic government. Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) – The State Department confirmed on Thursday that an Iranian-American missing in Iran for more than two weeks has been detained by authorities of the Islamic government.
Deputy spokesman Tom Casey said the United States is seeking consular access for Ali Shakeri, a peace activist from Irvine, Calif., who was supposed to leave Iran and fly to Europe on May 13 but never arrived at his destination.
Shakeri is the third Iranian-American who has been detained in Iran in recent weeks.
“What we are seeing is a disturbing pattern on the part of the Iranians in efforts to harass these innocent people,” Casey said.
He said all were visiting family members or engaged in professional work.
Shakeri is founding board member at the University of California, Irvine’s Center for Citizen Peacebuilding.
Casey said Shakeri has no standing with the U.S. government. Conflicting Iranian press reports say Shakeri has been charged or soon will be charged.
