U.S. denies abducting Iranian nuclear scientist
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The United States on Tuesday denied the alleged accusation of kidnapping an Iranian nuclear scientist, dismissing a possible swap with Tehran over three U.S. citizens detained in the Islamic republic.
"Based on the media reporting, this individual was in Saudi Arabia. If the question is 'did the United States kidnap him from Saudi Arabia?' The answer is 'no,'" State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters at the daily press briefing.
The spokesman refused to give more comments on the case.
Iran's state TV on Monday showed a video, in which the scientist Shahram Amiri said he was abducted by U.S. and Saudi intelligence services on a pilgrimage trip to Mecca in June 2009. The TV said the video was recorded in April in Arizona, the United States.
Early on Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that Tehran would not discuss with the Obama administration on a swap between Shahram Amiri and three U.S. citizens who "trespassed Iran's border illegally."
"The U.S. moves are inhumane and run counter to international regulations. We will definitely pursue Amiri's case through legal and political channels," said Mehmanparast.
The three Americans, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal, were arrested in Iran on July 31 last year after they illegally entered the country from Iraq. The Iranian authorities have warned that the three could be tried in the country.
Tehran claims that at least 11 Iranians have been detained in the United States, and that among them are a nuclear scientist who disappeared in Saudi Arabia and a former Defense Ministry official who was missing in Turkey.
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