More On the Iranian Scientist

The CIA is confirming that Shahram Amiri, the Iranian scientist, received 5 million dollars for intelligence about Iran. They are reporting that they did receive information from him but, because of Iranian sanctions, the cash given to him in exchange, remains in the US. He has no access to any of it. 

In another twist, The New York Times reported Friday that Amiri had been a CIA informant inside Iran for several years before defecting. U.S. officials quoted but not named by the newspaper said he had provided valuable information on Iran's nuclear program, including how a Tehran university served as headquarters for Iran's nuclear program.

The US is also saying that Amiri was never kidnapped. He made the choice, himself, to come to the US and leave his family. This I absolutely believe.

Amiri is sticking with his story about being abducted in Saudi Arabia, claiming that he was brought to the US, and was tortured - mentally and physically. Then, apparently, we decided to offer him 50 million dollars to stay here. Umm...if we're torturing you, why in the hell would we offer you 50 million dollars? Huh? This guys story isn't even logical. I can't believe anyone would entertain it.

Amiri refused to say how - if under guard - he could have escaped U.S. agents to release videos in which he alleges that he had been snatched by American and Saudi kidnap teams while on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. He said that to disclose such information now could harm national security, and said he would explain everything later.

Yeah, I'm sure he will.

U.S. officials would say little about the circumstances of what they assert was a willing defection by Amiri and what went wrong. But there were suggestions that threats to his family in Iran pushed Amiri to first make the claims he was kidnapped.

Amiri, however, claimed his family faced no problems.

"My family was completely free and they were under financial support of the Iranian government," he said.

Of course, we all know how free the people of Iran are. They are always allowed to speak their minds freely without any fear of imprisonment or, some other form of torture.