Iran slams Amiri kidnap as terror act

Head of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=134709§ionid=351020101


A senior Iranian lawmaker has lashed out at the US to abduct Iranian scholar Shahram Amiri, saying the move was an act of state terrorism.

"Amiri's abduction is among hundreds of cases in which the United States kidnaps individuals. This is an internationally recognized terrorist act," Head of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi told IRNA on Wednesday.

Amiri, who was a university lecturer, was kidnapped in the holy Saudi city of Medina on June 3, 2009 in a joint operation by terror and kidnap teams from the US Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia's Istikhbarat.

The Iranian scientist, who took refuge in Iran's interest section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington on Tuesday, left the United States for the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Wednesday after demanding an "immediate return" to the country.

Boroujerdi further pointed out that the abduction of Amiri brought shame on the United States.

"If the US has respect for itself, which seems it does not, it should apologize to the Iranian nation for the abduction of an Iranian national and make efforts to compensate," the lawmaker stressed.

In his exclusive interview with Press TV Amiri said he was kidnapped by the US security agents in collaboration with Saudi forces.

He added that he was snatched by a group of unknown people, made unconscious and found himself on an American plane bound for the United States.

The Iranian academic said he has been under "psychological warfare and pressure" and was offered $10 million to appear on CNN and announce that he had willingly defected to the US.

US blatant lies about Iranian academic

Shahram Amiri


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=134681§ionid=351020101


In a clear change of stance, the United States has spread blatant lies about an Iranian academic who was kidnapped by Saudi and US intelligence agents last year.

While the United States had earlier dismissed reports that Iranian national Shahram Amiri was in the US, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that he "lived freely" in the US.

Clinton further added that Amiri was "free to go" back to his home country.

Now, questions have been raised on how Amiri obtained entrance documents to travel to the US and what border he crossed into the United States.

The abducted Iranian academic said earlier that unknown men made him unconscious in the Saudi holy city of Medina and when he woke up he found himself on a passenger plane bound for the US.

Amiri further pointed out that he had been under house arrest in the US and was offered a huge amount of money to make remarks against the Islamic Republic.

The United States and Saudi Arabia are still held accountable for the abduction of the Iranian scientist.

The US and Saudi officials should be brought to trial for their illegal moves of kidnapping.

Amiri, who took refuge in Iran's interest section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington on Tuesday, left the United States for the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Wednesday after demanding an "immediate return" to the country.

The embassy preserves Iran's interests in the United States, since the two countries have no diplomatic relations.

In collaboration with Saudi forces, US security forces kidnapped Amiri while he was on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in June 2009 and took him to America.

Holding the US accountable for Amiri's abduction, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss charge d'affaires, whose embassy represents US interests in Iran, earlier this month and handed over new documents related to the abduction of the Iranian national by the CIA.