Iranian scientist defects to CIA

An award-winning Iranian nuclear scientist has defected to the CIA andresettled in the US in what has been described as an 'intelligencecoup', ABC World News reports.

An Iranian flag fluttering in front of Iran's Safir Omid rocket, which is capable of carrying a satellite into orbit, before it's launch in a space station at an undisclosed location in the Islamic republic (Getty)

An award-winning Iranian nuclear scientist has defected to the CIA and resettled in the US in what has been described as an 'intelligence coup', ABC World News reports.

Officials at the American intelligence agency made the announcement on Thursday, local time.

The scientist, Shahram Amiri, mysteriously disappeared in Saudi Arabia last June.

The Associated Press reports Mr Amiri worked at Malek Ashtar University in Iran's capital Tehran, and was connected with the country's Revolutionary Guard.

Iran has faced international pressure over its nuclear program, which it says is for power-generation rather than the creation of nuclear weapons.

The CIA believes Tehran is 'keeping the door open' to build nuclear weaponry.