NYC Lawyer: Ahmadinejad's cameraman seeks U.S. asylum

NEW YORK A lawyer for a cameraman who was accompanying Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly in New York says his client has defected.

Paul O'Dwyer, a New York City-based lawyer who is representing Hassan Gol Khanban, confirmed Sunday that his client is seeking asylum in the U.S. He provided no other details.

• Ahmadinejad on Israel: "We have never threatened them"
• Watch: Ahmadinejad's final U.N. General Assembly address
• Iran news agency picks up "Onion" story

It wasn't immediately clear when the Iranian defected or his current whereabouts.

A message left with Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for the Iranian mission to the U.N., was not immediately returned.

Ahmadinejad addressed the assembly on Wednesday, his last as president of Iran.

The news about his cameraman comes on the heels of other troubling events for Ahmadinejad. Last week, Iranian authorities arrested Ahmadinejad's top press adviser.

The Iranian president called the situation "regretful."

Authorities on Wednesday took Ali Akbar Javanfekr into custody to begin serving a six-month sentence for publishing material deemed insulting to the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The arrest is seen part of ongoing feud between Ahmadinejad and his conservative rivals ahead of June presidential elections in which Ahmadinejad is not allowed to run, under the law.

[quincytodd]

I wonder just how much did the C.I.A. pay this bozo to "defect". Never put anything past the C.I.A. I'm all for Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in spite of all the propaganda the Western media puts out against him. The bottom line here is that Iran has the 4th largest oil reserves in the world and the West want them quite badly!

[judymar14]

We have so many ilegals in this country already, why should someone coming in the legal way cause a stir. He has defected, not sneaked in across the border. The US never turned anyone from a communist controlled country defecting away. The Russians who defected, lived as good as life as one can in Russia and other countries under communist control, being artists in their field. It would be interesting to learn how the 'loyals' to the government actually live.

[Calltwoarms]

Why is this news? I'd be outta Iran faster than a lightening strike. Cuddos to this guy. It's a nice embarrassment for the Iranians. I'll be his family goes to prison for life. The price of freedom isn't free!

[WJBradley]

I would bet this man would have valuable info on things inside Iran. He should be tapped.

[bobbychuckles]

Send him back. The boat is full.

[robertopp2002]

Next up: Ahmadinejad himself defects to the US.....

[the_egret]

Buncha nitwits posting here

[justben]

The racism on this page is shocking.

[David_Tampa]

Tell him no ..............we have his pics on YouTube affffffffffffff!

[Shibbol]

You mean AkIoncehadajob.