In October, Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, complained to the United Nations that the United States had kidnapped or tried to seize four Iranians, including a man identified only by the last name Ardebili. Those reports focused on reports that some of the men were nuclear scientists. Ardebili is believed to be an engineer and arms dealer; there is no indication that he bought or tried to buy any nuclear-related items, a U.S. official said.