Missing Iranian scientist 'wants to leave US'

A missing Iranian nuclear scientist has surfaced at a Pakistani Embassy in the US, apparently asking to return home.

Iran's state TV said that Shahram Amiri, whom it claims had been abducted by America, had demanded an "immediate return" to Iran.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, which represents Iran diplomatically in the US, said the scientist arrived yesterday and has been with them since.

"We understand from Dr Rahmani that they are making arrangements for his repatriation to Iran," he said.

Amiri disappeared while on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in June 2009. Iran has repeatedly claimed that the US abducted him. The US denies this.

Before he disappeared, Amiri worked at Tehran's Malek Ashtar University, an institution closely connected to the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard.

US media reported in March that Amiri defected to the US and was assisting the CIA in efforts to undermine Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran's state TV has periodically showed purported videos of Amiri claiming abduction and torture by the US

One of the videos, aired in early June, showed a man wearing headphones and speaking through what appeared to be a webcam, saying he was abducted while on a pilgrimage to Medina, injected with a tranquilliser and taken to the United States.

Iran has previously hinted it would trade three American prisoners it has held since last July for a number of Iranians allegedly detained by the United States, including Amiri.

The United Nations in early June imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Tehran over its refusal to curtain its nuclear programme.

The West accuses Iran of seeking to develop atomic weapons. It maintains that its nuclear research is for peaceful purposes.