AFP: The United States Tuesday denied kidnapping an Iranian nuclear scientist, as Tehran said it would press for his release, alleging he was being held against his will in Tucson, Arizona.
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States Tuesday denied kidnapping an Iranian nuclear scientist, as Tehran said it would press for his release, alleging he was being held against his will in Tucson, Arizona.
“Have we kidnapped an Iranian scientist? The answer is no,” said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.
Iran said Tuesday it would use legal channels to secure the release of Shahram Amiri, who in a video clip screened on Iranian television channels said he was kidnapped by US agents.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the film confirmed Tehran’s charges that Amiri had been “kidnapped by US and Saudi intelligence services.”
Crowley would not comment on whether Amiri was in the United States, saying he personally did not know of the scientist’s whereabouts.
