Amid further threats from Ahmadinejad today is another story about an Iranian-American who has been imprisoned in Iran for spying. This should come as no surprise, since the Iranian leadership has already proven that kidnapping foreigners is part of their foreign policy approach.
The British soldiers have told their story, explaining their ‘alleged' confessions as they were displayed daily on Iranian TV, their plight ended positively. This has not been the case thus far for Robert Levinson, the American consultant who disappeared several months ago on the island Kish. No visa is required to visit Iranian island, and Levinson was apparently working on a film during his visit. However, being an ex-FBI agent his true work there is open to debate.
Now an Iranian-American, Haleh Esfandiari (one of the leading US authorities on Iran), has been reported to have been arrested in Iran. She had gone to visit her aging mother in December, while returning to the airport on her way back to the US she was robbed; losing both her Iranian and US passports. She had been trying, unsuccessfully, for the past four months to obtain new documentation. This in turn led to several questionings by the Iranian intelligence ministry about her work as the director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington.
After four months in this state of limbo, she was recently taken to Evin Prison by three ‘knife-wielding' masked men. She has been accused by Iranian papers as being a US & Israeli spy.
Iran does not recognize dual citizenship, and has stated that she will be treated like other Iranian nationals. This is not a promising turn of events considering Iranian-Canadian reporter Zahra Kazemi, who was also held at Evin prison, was beaten to death at that same facility in 2004.
Iran looks to be viewed as a serious international player, but continues to operate at a level barely discernable from organized crime. While there are many nations who fall into such a dubious category, this should be taken into consideration when questioning why the US continues to have limited relations with the current Iranian government.
Reference Articles:
Iran admits detaining US academic
Canadian journalist 'beaten to death'
Iran: US will regret any strike
Iran: No News Yet on Missing Ex-FBI Man
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Comments: 5
I agree talking to them is the only way to move forward with them, I just wish we had done it when Khatami was still in power...he was someone who could have made it possible.
Good article Steve and I wasnt aware of this...thanks, for the inf.
Sorry, there is a slight difference from combatants taken off of a battlefield in Afghanistan and this woman who was visiting her mother and mugged of her papers. If you cannot see the difference here, I cannot help.