Hmm: Missing Iranian Scientist Surfaces in Washington?

Take this for waht it's worth considering a primary source is Iranian media.

Iran state media reported Tuesday that a missing Iranian academic, whom Tehran has said was kidnapped last year by the U.S., is seeking refuge at the Pakistan embassy in Washington and has asked to return home.

State media, including the English-language Press TV, said U.S. forces escorted former nuclear researcher Shahram Amiri to the Pakistan mission, citing Iran's state-run broadcaster. It didn't detail sources for the report.

A spokesman for Pakistan's foreign ministry said Tuesday the government had been informed by the head of Iran's interest section in Washington that Mr. Amiri had sought refuge at the section's building on Monday evening.

Pakistan's embassy is a channel for Washington to communicate with Tehran, which doesn't have formal diplomatic relation with the U.S. But Pakistan has no role overseeing the Iranian interest section.

The report deepens the mystery surrounding Mr. Amiri's disappearance last year in Saudi Arabia. Iran blamed the U.S. for abducting him. U.S. officials have denied kidnapping the man. Earlier this year, ABC News reported Mr. Amiri had defected to the U.S.

Iranian state media aired a video last month claiming to show Mr. Amiri alleging he was being held against his will in the U.S. after being captured by U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia. In a second video that surfaced on the Internet, someone claiming to be Mr. Amiri appeared to contradict that, saying he was in the U.S. on his own free will but denied he had defected to the U.S.

Previous reports indicated Amiri had defected and was working with the CIA.