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April 29, 2013

Iranian Scientist Released After More Than a Year in U.S. Detention 
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An Iranian scientist who was held in the United States for more than a
year for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions has reportedly returned home
to Iran. Mojtaba Atarodi, who is an assistant professor of engineering,
was detained in late 2011 on accusations of buying high-tech U.S.
laboratory equipment. Atarodi said he had tried to buy the equipment to
conduct personal research in his lab.

Mojtaba Atarodi: "U.S. authorities knew all about my academic
background. Even the prosecutor general told me I should never have been
arrested, jailed or tried in the first place. He said he was embarrassed
to put me on trial, but he had no choice. He said he did it after
receiving orders from Washington."

 

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