Americans free Iranian scientist

TEHRAN, Iran - An Iranian scientist held by the U.S. since late 2011 has returned to Iran.

The scientist, Mojtaba Atarodi, said U.S. authorities had treated him “generally well.”

The microchip expert at Tehran’s high-profile Sharif University, Atarodi was in U.S. custody since December 2011 over allegations he bought high-tech equipment in violation of U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Atarodi arrived home via Oman, a Perisan Gulf state that has served as a mediator between Washington and Tehran before.

In 2012, the U.S. released Iranian citizen Shahrzad Mir Gholikhan after she spent five years in U.S. detention.

The U.S. has a history of occasional arrest and release of Iranians on similar charges.

In 2010 and 2011, three Americans convicted of espionage by Iran returned home through Oman.

Front Section, Pages 15 on 04/28/2013

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