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Iranian general defected to US

07 March 2007 09:59 (UTC +04:00)

Asghari, a former defense minister and also was a general in IranÂ»s Revolutionary Guards, disappeared on February 7 and asked for asylum from the US and lives with his family there. Western and IsraelÂ»s media report that he had information about TehranÂ»s nuclear programs and military projects; US CIA offered him to cooperate and noted that he and his family will be provided with asylum. After accepting the proposal, Asgeri first went to Syria and then to Istanbul.
Before his arrival two non-Turkish citizens (men of special service bodies of the US and Israel) booked a room for Askeri in Ceylan Intercontinental hotel. But the general did not come.
(Some reports say that he left his things there and did not return any more). CIA and Mossad intelligence agency, worrying about his missing started operations and Askeri was detained in a hotel in Istanbul. Later he left for this country together with American agents. AskeriÂ»s missing caused IranÂ»s anxiety. Worrying that the general can call the names of Iranian agents to the US intelligence, Tehran called the agents having diplomatic passports in Near East back. Trying to find him Iran started intensive negotiations with Turkish law enforcement bodies, but they could not find him.
Israel side considers that he can also give information about Ron Arad the pilot of military plane of Israel that was shot in 1986. At that time he was a general in IranÂ»s Revolutionary Guards. Arad, who was captured in Lebanon territory, is supposed to be handed over to Iranian side. Allegations came from Iran that either the CIA or IsraelÂ»s Mossad intelligence agency was behind his disappearance. /APA/