An Iranian nuclear scientist who claims to be held in the US is “free to go” at any time, unlike three US hikers detained for months by Tehran, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday.
“He is free to go, he was free to come,” Clinton said, denying Iranian allegations that scientist Shahram Amiri was being held in the US against his will. Clinton contrasted the case of the Iranian scientist to that of Americans Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27 who have been held in Iran for nearly a year after allegedly straying into the country during a hiking trip, declaring that “Iran continues to hold three young Americans against their wills.”
The top US diplomat also made reference to the case of Robert Levinson, an American who went missing without a trace in the Islamic Republic more than three years ago. Tehran has provided “no information on the welfare and whereabouts” of the retired FBI agent, she said.
