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An Iranian scientist who has been in the United States was here by his own choice and was free leave, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday

The case of Shahram Amiri, 32, an employee at the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, has been yet another source of tension between the two countries. Iran alleged that Amiri was abducted by the US government while he was on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in June 2009 and later tortured.

The United States adamantly rejected the accusations. There had been speculation Amiri could have defected to provide information on Iran's nuclear activities.

'Mr Amiri has been in the United States of his own free will. And he is free to go,' Clinton told reporters during a press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.