Iranian state television has claimed that a Washington-based Lebanese citizen missing in Tehran since September is actually an American spy now in the custody of authorities.
The state TV report is the first official word about Nizar Zakka, who holds permanent-resident status in the US. It comes as four Americans are known to be held by Iranian authorities after the Islamic Republic struck a nuclear deal with world powers.
Zakka disappeared on 18 September while visiting Tehran for a state-sponsored conference, according to a statement from the Washington-based group IJMA3-USA, which advocates for internet freedom across the Middle East. Zakka was last seen leaving his hotel in a taxi for the airport to fly to Beirut, but he never boarded his flight, according to a statement last week signed by Lebanese lawyer Antoine Abou Dib.
Reached Tuesday by the Associated Press, Abou Dib said he had not heard of the Iranian claim and declined to immediately comment. IJMA3-USA did not immediately return a request for comment. Lebanese officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
The state TV report claimed Zakka had “deep links” with US intelligence services and its military. It also aired a still photo of men in US army-style uniforms, claiming Zakka was one of the men.
It was not immediately clear if Zakka ever served in a military. However, Riverside Military Academy of Gainesville, Georgia, lists Zakka as an alumnus on its website and describes him as “an internationally recognized expert in information and communications technology (ICT) policy”. It said he graduated from the academy in 1985 and later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Texas.
A spokeswoman for Riverside Military Academy referred questions to Jim Benson, the school’s president. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Zakka’s disappearance comes as hardliners in Iran remain opposed to a detente with the US in the wake of the nuclear deal. That agreement reached earlier this year promises lifting crippling economic sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
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