Iran executes nuclear scientist who was convicted of spying

[webfact]

Iran executes nuclear scientist who was convicted of spying

By NASSER KARIMI and JON GAMBRELL

 

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran executed a nuclear scientist convicted of spying for the United States, an official said Sunday, acknowledging for the first time that the nation secretly detained and tried a man who was once heralded as a hero.

 

Shahram Amiri defected to the U.S. at the height of Western efforts to thwart Iran's nuclear program. When he returned in 2010, he was welcomed with flowers by government leaders and even went on the Iranian talk-show circuit. Then he mysteriously disappeared.

 

He was hanged the same week that Tehran executed a group of militants, a year after Iran agreed to a landmark accord to limit uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

 

Amiri first vanished in 2009 while on a religious pilgrimage to Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia. A year later, he reappeared in a series of contradictory online videos filmed in the U.S. He then walked into the Iranian-interests section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington and demanded to be sent home.

 

In interviews, he described being kidnapped and held against his will by Saudi and American spies. U.S. officials said he was to receive millions of dollars for his help in understanding Iran's nuclear program.

 

Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejehi said Amiri "had access to the country's secret and classified information" and "had been linked to our hostile and No. 1 enemy, America, the Great Satan."

 

The spokesman told journalists that Amiri had been tried in a death-penalty case that was upheld by an appeals court. He did not explain why authorities never announced the conviction, though he said Amiri had access to lawyers.

 

News about Amiri, born in 1977, has been scant since his return to Iran. Last year, his father told the BBC's Farsi-language service that his son had been held at a secret site. Ejehi said Amiri's family mistakenly believed he received a 10-year prison sentence.

 

On Tuesday, Iran announced it had executed a number of criminals, describing them mainly as militants from the country's Kurdish minority. Then an obituary notice for Amiri circulated in his hometown of Kermanshah, a city some 500 kilometers (310 miles) southwest of Tehran, according to the Iranian pro-reform daily newspaper Shargh.

 

Manoto, a private satellite television channel based in London believed to be run by those who back Iran's ousted shah, reported Saturday that Amiri had been executed. BBC Farsi also quoted Amiri's mother saying her son's neck bore ligature marks suggesting he had been hanged by the state.

 

The Associated Press could not immediately reach Amiri's family.

 

His disappearance came as Western countries stepped up their efforts to impede Iran's nuclear program under the government of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The U.S. actively tried to recruit nuclear scientists to defect. Later, four Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated between 2010 and 2012, and Iran blamed the slayings on Israel and the West.

 

The Stuxnet computer virus, widely believed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli creation, disrupted thousands of centrifuges at a uranium enrichment facility in Iran.

 

In June 2010, a shaky online video emerged of Amiri saying he had been kidnapped by American and Saudi agents and was in Tucson, Arizona.

 

A short time later, he appeared in a professionally shot online video near a chess set, saying he wanted to earn a doctorate in America and return to Iran if an "opportunity of safe travel" presented itself. His wife and son remained behind in Iran.

 

"I have not done any activity against my homeland," he said. But soon, another clip contradicted that, and he appeared at the Pakistani Embassy.

 

Hillary Clinton, who was then the secretary of state, stressed that Amiri had been in America "of his own free will."

"He is free to go," she said.

 

U.S. officials at the time told the AP that Amiri was paid $5 million to offer the CIA information about Iran's nuclear program, though he left the country without the money. They said Amiri, who ran a radiation-detection program in Iran, traveled to the U.S. and stayed there for months by choice.

 

Analysts abroad suggested Iranian authorities may have threatened Amiri's family back in Iran, forcing him to return.

 

On his return from the U.S., Amiri was greeted at airport by high-ranking government officials and was invited to TV talk shows where he explained how he bypassed a U.S. trap to get home. Many newspapers published accounts of his return on their front pages and some suggested a movie be made from his story.

 

He said Saudi and American officials had kidnapped him while he visited the Saudi holy city of Medina. He also said Israeli agents were present at his interrogations and that that CIA officers offered him $50 million to remain in America.

 

"I was under the harshest mental and physical torture," he said.

 

Amiri's case indirectly found its way back into the spotlight in the U.S. last year with the release of State Department emails sent and received by Clinton, now the Democratic presidential candidate. The release of those emails came amid criticism of Clinton's use of a private account and server that has persisted into her campaign against Republican candidate Donald Trump.

 

An email forwarded to Clinton by senior adviser Jake Sullivan on July 5, 2010 — just nine days before Amiri returned to Tehran — appears to reference the scientist.

 

"We have a diplomatic, 'psychological' issue, not a legal one. Our friend has to be given a way out," the email by Richard Morningstar, a former State Department special envoy for Eurasian energy, read. "Our person won't be able to do anything anyway. If he has to leave, so be it."

 

Another email, sent by Sullivan on July 12, 2010, appears to obliquely refer to the scientist just hours before his appearance at the Pakistani Embassy became widely known.

 

"The gentleman ... has apparently gone to his country's interests section because he is unhappy with how much time it has taken to facilitate his departure," Sullivan wrote. "This could lead to problematic news stories in the next 24 hours."

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-08-08

[leeneeds]

Wanting to know what is going on with Iran and its nuclear program  a story for this man and his family , one of many we will never know the whole truth about.

R.I.P.

[Ulysses G.]

Too bad he was murdered by the Mullahs, but he never should have gone back to Iran. Some people do not have common sense.

[Andaman Al]

It is obviously a tale of complex intrigue. It has for me however an element of real sadness, and that is for his son. You will see on the TV clips of when Amiri returned home to Iran that his young son had missed him dreadfully and was overwhelmed with seeing him again. How bad for the young boy then to lose him again to the police and then as we now know to the hangman's noose. The death of most people can leave behind with the family a train wreckage, I feel for the young boy, no matter what the father did, the doting child was innocent.

 

At last I agree with UG !!! Why this guy ever went back is bemusing. Surely getting his wife and son 'out' would have been a better option. I guess he just missed them too much.

 

[ClutchClark]

Iran executes scientist accused of assisting the US.

 

Oh yes, Iran is certainly working towards that same peaceful relationship with the US that the obama crowd here loves to defend.

 

Everybody now.

 

Come together and join hands and sing along...Kumbaya, My lord, Kumbaya....

[ilostmypassword]

Whereas in the USA, say, if someone was found to be selling secrets to Iran, he or she would be given a tickertape parade? What nonsense!

[Ulysses G.]

Iran is a rogue nation with an illegal nuclear weapons program. It is not quite the same thing.

[Andaman Al]

13 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

Iran is a rogue nation with an illegal nuclear weapons program. It is not quite the same thing.

 

Iran does not have an illegal nuclear weapons program. That has been established by international observers. Israel however does have an illegal nuclear weapons program.

 

 

45 minutes ago, ClutchClark said:

Iran executes scientist accused of assisting the US.

 

Oh yes, Iran is certainly working towards that same peaceful relationship with the US that the obama crowd here loves to defend.

 

Everybody now.

 

Come together and join hands and sing along...Kumbaya, My lord, Kumbaya....

 

Got to agree with ilostmypassword. If Snowden decided to come home I doubt he would be given much quarter. Clearly the Iranian Government did not buy into the fact that the guy was kidnapped by Saudi's and US CIA, probably on account of him doing a few TV appearances. The man was stupid and he and his family paid the price.

[Pimay1]

More blood on Hillary's hands?

 

"I'm not going to comment on what he may or may not have done for the United States government, but in the emails that were on Hillary Clinton's private server, there were conversations among her senior advisers about this gentleman,"

 

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/290672-cotton-clinton-had-emails-on-private-server-about-nuclear

 

[Silurian]

What a convoluted mess surrounding Amiri. It seemed that he was lost in his own world that he created. He probably felt that his wife and child would be in too much danger if he gave any state secrets away yet he probably didn't like what was going on in Iran. I'm sure he felt squeezed between two bad situations but didn't know how to save himself or his family. He probably wished that he never became a nuclear scientist and went into some safer line of work. He should have moved his wife and child out first but maybe his wife didn't want to leave her family. He also probably has extended family and friends that he wanted to keep safe and also wanted to see again. I don't envy his situation at all.

[ezzra]

38 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

 

Iran does not have an illegal nuclear weapons program. That has been established by international observers. Israel however does have an illegal nuclear weapons program.

 

 

 

Got to agree with ilostmypassword. If Snowden decided to come home I doubt he would be given much quarter. Clearly the Iranian Government did not buy into the fact that the guy was kidnapped by Saudi's and US CIA, probably on account of him doing a few TV appearances. The man was stupid and he and his family paid the price.

 

Let's just say that your assertion i that Iran's legal nuclear programs is a 100% is as accurate as your takes on Israel's nuclear capabilities, both are flowed and untrue....

[RuamRudy]

2 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

Too bad he was murdered by the Mullahs, but he never should have gone back to Iran. Some people do not have common sense.

 

Maybe, like the very brave Mordechai Vanunu, he had no choice?

[Pinot]

The Faux News media echo chamber is all over this, accusing HRC of tying the hangman's noose. Again, grasping at e-straws. Imagine a world where Tom Cotton gets elected to a public office? Only in wingnuttia. 

[Silurian]

5 minutes ago, ClutchClark said:

 

The goal of equality is a pipedream offered liberals and you are apparently a true believer based on your posts.

 

Offering equality weakens the strong and simply gives advantage to enemies to flip the imbalance in their favor.

 

 

If this was truly the case, then the US and England would have remained enemies after the American Revolution. Technically, according to this statement most nations should not trust each other and only bargain based strength alone. Geez, what a cynical world that would be.

[MobileContent]

A lot of Nuclear scientists  got killed over the past 10 years and most of them died via car bombs. The West didn't said shit about it. Let me guess the 5 scientists  that died via car bombs didn't wanted to cooperate with the West so they had to go.

 

One that seem to have spied for the West was court by Iran and the world cries foul that he got executed.

[ilostmypassword]

2 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

Iran is a rogue nation with an illegal nuclear weapons program. It is not quite the same thing.

You got some documentation to show that Iran's nuclear weapon program is illegal?

[Ulysses G.]

8 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

You got some documentation to show that Iran's nuclear weapon program is illegal?

 

Only the treaty they signed not to have one and all the UN resolutions against them for violating it. 

[ilostmypassword]

15 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Only the treaty they signed not to have one and all the UN resolutions against them for violating it. 

Here's your quote again:

"Iran is a rogue nation with an illegal nuclear weapons program."

Do you understand the difference between the past and present tense?

[Pimay1]

6 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Here's your quote again:

"Iran is a rogue nation with an illegal nuclear weapons program."

Do you understand the difference between the past and present tense?

Do you honestly believe Iran does not have a nuclear program?

[thaihome]

*Deleted post removed*

 

It likely comes a surprise to you that Iran is the midst of a internal struggle between moderates who recognize that the hard line faction that has been in control are driving the country to ruin.

 

The Nuclear Agreement is under internal attacks even worse then in the US. The execution is obviously a blowback by the hardliners to agreement.

 

Your comment is exactly the reaction they are looking for as they continue attempts to sabotage it.

TH 

[Scott]

I have removed MANY off-topic posts and replies.   Further bickering and deflection will result in lengthy suspensions.   

 

The topic has nothing to do with Israel and the bringing of unnecessary politics into the discussion will not be tolerated. 

 

You have been warned.   The topic is about a scientist who may or may not have been involved in espionage and has been executed.  

[Grouse]

8 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Maybe, like the very brave Mordechai Vanunu, he had no choice?

 

Thanks for reminding me!

 

Brave man indeed!

[tifino]

 

He would have lasted longer if he had defecated to NthKorea instead

[RuamRudy]

11 minutes ago, Grouse said:

 

Thanks for reminding me!

 

Brave man indeed!

 

I don't want to go off topic, but many parallels here.

Edited August 8, 2016 by RuamRudy

[Ulic]

Lots of intrigue and fodder for conspiracy theorists. Did the USA release information saying he defected and was of great help in understanding the Iranian nuclear program knowing this would lead to his death at the hands of Iran. Did they in fact kidnap him?

If they were so appreciative of his help why throw him under the bus when he returned to Iran. Surely they knew the danger he would be in releasing this information. All we know is he is dead at the hands of the Iran because the US said he was very helpful.

Did he defect??? Was he kidnapped ??? Was he helpful. Who knows.

[connda]

If Iran adopted the US political model, instead of executing him they would have placed him on the ballot for president. 

Edited August 8, 2016 by connda

[GOLDBUGGY]

On ‎8‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 7:14 AM, Ulysses G. said:

Too bad he was murdered by the Mullahs, but he never should have gone back to Iran. Some people do not have common sense.

If you father and mother, brothers and sisters and their children, and your wife and daughters and sons are all still in Iran, and if you were threatened that if you did not come back soon they would all be tortured in the slow way, and then all killed later, what would you do?

[ilostmypassword]

On 8/8/2016 at 11:20 AM, Pimay1 said:

Do you honestly believe Iran does not have a nuclear program?

Yes, it does have a nuclear program. Which it was allowed under the agreement.  As for Iran respecting the terms of the deal, let me refer you to a source which you will probably reject because he is so clearly prejudiced.

Energy minister: Iran has respected ‘bad’ nuclear deal

"Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz on Sunday criticized a landmark nuclear accord between the Jewish state’s arch-foe Iran and world powers, but said Tehran has so far respected the deal.

The agreement, which was signed in July 2015 and came into force in January, saw Tehran accept curbs to its nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of economic sanctions by world powers.

“It’s a bad deal but it’s an accomplished fact, and during the first year we spotted no significant breach from the Iranians,” said Steinitz, who is close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."

http://www.timesofisrael.com/energy-minister-iran-has-respected-nuclear-deal/

For some reason, the clipboard or whatever it's called, won't let me unquote. Which is why Clutchclark and goldbuggy are listed at the top of my post