Iran's state radio said on Tuesday a missing Iranian nuclear scientist who Tehran says was kidnapped by the CIA, had taken refuge in Pakistan's embassy in Washington.

'A few hours ago Shahram Amiri took refuge at Iran's interest section at the Pakistan embassy in Washington, wanting to return to Iran immediately,' state radio said.

Iran and the United States cut diplomatic relations shortly after the country's 1979 Islamic revolution. The embassy of Pakistan preserves Iran's interests in the United States.-Reuters