Judiciary Spokesman Confirms Detention of Iranian-American

EghtesadOnline: Judiciary Spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei confirmed reports about the detention of an Iranian-American national in Northern Iran in the last two days.

News ID: ۷۶۸۵۷۶

25 July 2016

"The reports on the detention of a dual-national Iranian-American individual are confirmed," Mohseni Ejei told reporters in a press conference in Tehran on Sunday.

Yet, he declined to comment on the accusations raised against the detained individual, but said he was arrested in the Northern city of Gorgan, according to FNA.

Mohseni Ejei did not name the detained individual, but said his case will go under judicial procedures in Tehran.

Western media outlets have been reporting in the last few days that Gholamreza Shahini, who goes by “Robin,” traveled to Iran to visit family this month but was arrested by the Iranian authorties.

He had been staying at his mother’s house in his native Gorgan, a city about 250 miles Northeast of Tehran and near the Caspian Sea.

Robin Shahini was a US citizen and a May graduate of San Diego State.

His friends said that Shahini was visited by Iranian intelligence on July 11 and taken from his mother’s home, but no official has yet confirmed the report.

Public records show that Shahini, 46, owned a couple of businesses in San Diego, Arya Food and Pappa Cheese Pizza, but declared bankruptcy in 2008.

It is not yet clear if Mohseni Ejei was referring to Robin's case as he declined to mention his name.