http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/15/AR2010071501395.html?hpid=topnews

According to The Washington Post, the CIA abducted and paid Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri upward of $5 million to inform the U.S. about Iran’s nuclear program. Amiri was taken from Saudi Arabia where it was hoped that he would give the US valuable information on Iranian nuclear capabilities. Even though he was just a researcher, he was given larges sums of money that may reflect the value of the information gained. Although he does not have to return the money he will lose access to the funds after breaks what was called “significant ties.”
The compensation Amiri received is part of the clandestine CIA program called the "brain drain." Its goal is to use incentives to induce scientists and other officials to produce information.
Iran continues to claim that its nuclear program has strictly peaceful purposes.
That is all I am at liberty to say.
A. Braden