Missing Iranian researcher takes refuge in Pakistani Embassy

"Iranian scientist Shahram Amiri, who was kidnapped by the Americans, had gone to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C. and taken refuge at Iran's Interest Section. He has requested to be sent back to Iran quickly," Iran's semi-official news agency Mehr said Tuesday.

Since he is an Iranian national, the Interest Section will prepare his papers, buy him a ticket and send him home, the Pakistani sources said. Replica Rolex Air King

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that Amiri is in the United States "of his own free will" and is "free to go" back to Iran. She also repeated the U.S. request that Iran release three American hikers jailed there.

Amiri told the United States of his plans to return to Iran, and he was scheduled to travel Monday but was unable to make the appropriate travel arrangements in time, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said.
Video: Hillary Clinton says scientist can go
Video: Iranian scientist 'free to go'
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Responding to a question about a potential "prisoner swap," Crowley said the United States remains concerned about three American hikers being held against their will in Iran and Robert Levinson, the former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran two years ago. But he denied any suggestion of a swap.

Last week, the United States returned 10 alleged spies to Russia in exchange for four people who had been jailed in Russia.

Abdul Basit, a spokesman for the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Amiri came to the embassy at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The Pakistani diplomatic sources said no one in Iran was aware of Amiri's whereabouts until his arrival at the embassy.Rolex Sea Dweller Watches

Because Iran and the United States do not maintain diplomatic ties, the Pakistani Embassy looks after Iran's interest in Washington. Iran's Interest Section is in a separate building on the grounds of the embassy. Basit said it is controlled and staffed by Iran -- with about 70 to 80 Iranian diplomats. Pakistan has no control over the section, Basit said, adding that Amiri was not a guest of, nor was he in the custody or protection of the Pakistani government.;Rolex Oyster Perpetual Watches

Amiri, a researcher at Tehran's Malek Ashtar University, mysteriously disappeared in June 2009 while on a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, according to Iranian media reports.