Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Iran: Missing Scientist Takes Refuge in Pakistan Embassy in US Elizabeth Arrott | Cairo 13 July 2010 Iran's state media say an Iranian nuclear scientist has taken refuge in Pakistan's embassy in Washington and is seeking an immediate return to his homeland. The scientist, Shahram Amiri, went missing during a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where Iran says he was captured and handed over to U.S. intelligence agents - a claim the United States denies. The latest twist in Amiri's case follows conflicting accounts, reportedly by the scientist himself, that he had been kidnapped and tortured by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency or, conversely, he was in the United States for academic studies. Amiri had been working for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, which the United States and other countries suspect is trying to develop nuclear weapons - a charge Tehran denies. The scientist would have sought help at the Pakistani embassy, which has an Iranian interests section, in the absence of any formal American diplomatic ties with Tehran.   A series of video messages have only added confusion to the case. The latest, aired on Iranian television last month, showed a man identified as Amiri saying he had escaped from American intelligence forces, was in hiding and feared for his life. The message followed two others, also purportedly by Amiri, earlier in the month. In the first, a man says he had been kidnapped by the United States.  The next day, another video surfaced, with the speaker saying he was studying medical-related physics in the United States. and had no role in nuclear weapons research.  An American news network reported that Amiri had made the second video because he had defected to the United States to help it in its case against Iran and its nuclear program.  ABC television says the Iranian government threatened the scientist's relatives, if he failed to return. The United States has not commented on the latest development. Pakistan says it will issue a statement shortly. .