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Iranian scientist case

Iranian stem cell scientist Dr. Masoud Soleimani

Iranian prominent scientist has been arrested by the US government for one year but the just has postponed the trial so far.

Professor Masoud Soleimani, Iranian top notch stem cell researcher who is among the world’s 100 most celebrated scientists was arrested by the US government in October of 2018. He had gone to the US based on an invitation by Mayo Clinic to help them on a medical project and exchange ideas. On his way back home, however, he was arrested by the US police.

The professor had apparently been pressed to confess that the growth hormones had been purchased with the intent to circumvent US sanctions against Iran. US authorities said that would pave the way for a plea bargain but Professor Soleimani refused the offer.

Professor Soleimani works in stem cell research, hematology and regenerative medicine. His former student Mahboobeh Ghaedi was travelling to the US. So he asked that she get him recombinant proteins which are an artificial growth factor, for his research. Ghaedi ordered the proteins from US companies and sent them to another student Maryam Jazayeri, who would bring them to Iran for their professor. The proteins cost 8000 dollars in the US. In Iran, they cost 40.000 dollars. It merits a mention that the US sanctions against Iran do not include these growth factors.

Professor Soleimani is not the only Iranian in US jails. While the US demands Iran release US citizens in exchange for Iranian releases from US jails, there is no balance between the two. The scales weigh way heavier in favour of the US. While there are 5 known US citizens mostly dual nationals jailed in Iran, mostly for security crimes such as espionage, there are at least 50 Iranians in US jails, for bypassing sanctions.


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