Israel Matzav

Iranian bloggers: Amiri a double agent?

The headline says that several Iranian bloggers believe that Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri was a double agent. But in the end they seem to agree that he did not have much to offer the United States, and that either he went to investigate US interrogation methods or that he is in a lot of trouble. Here are a couple of the views expressed.

"Sibestan" believes Amiri is lying and hiding something, and suggests that he may be a double agent.

The blogger writes that it is unlikely that Amiri was abducted by the United States while he was in Saudi Arabia: "It is more acceptable that he got close to the Americans or they got close to him, and as a result he was transferred to the United States."

Sibestan believes Amiri returned to Iran because he didn't have important information about Iran's nuclear program: "I think the only true sentence in all the case came from the deputy foreign minister, who said Amiri was not a nuclear scientist."

The blogger says a plausible scenario is that Amiri contacted the United States during his trip to Saudi Arabia with the coordination of Iranian secret services. The blogger believes that U.S. secret agents then transferred Amiri to the United States, where they realized that he didn't have any important information and allowed him to return to Iran.

The blogger says that what Iran has gained in this "game" is knowledge about U.S. interrogation methods and its main questions about Iran's nuclear program.

"Amiri has gone in for free intelligence training and he will now provide the Iranians with the information he has gained," Sibestan writes.

...

Blogger "Fermesk Blog" also questions Amiri's claims that he was abducted in Saudi Arabia by U.S. secret agents, and says people are not "duped" to believe Amiri's account.

"Someone who was kidnapped and held by the CIA can easily escape and issue several videos on the Internet. Mr. Amiri you should know that we are duped into believing your fake story."

The blogger says Iranian officials will also not believe Amiri's account, and warns that the Iranian scientist is facing a dark future.

"The Islamic republic wants to have some fun with your story and pressure the United States. But these days will soon be over. Then your life will become dark. The Islamic republic will put you on trial on the charge of espionage for the United States. But your death penalty will not be carried out through [hanging] but it will rather be through a forged accident, or like Masud Ali Mohammadi your life will end in the street with a bomb and then they will put the blame on the United States."

The Wall Street Journal reports that Amiri was taken away on Thursday afternoon to be interrogated - his visit with his family was 'supervised.'

My guess is that the CIA is telling the truth, and that Amiri will likely not live very long. His family was foolish not to go along with him (they apparently were given the opportunity), and he was foolish to return. Fermesk blog seems to have gotten the ending right.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:53 AM