WASHINGTON - An American citizen has been missing in southern Iran for several weeks, the US State Department confirmed Monday.
The US national, who has not been identified, was "in Iran on private business," spokesman Sean McCormack said, adding that neither his employer nor his family had heard from him for "several weeks."
The United States on Monday called on Iran to investigate the man`s disappearance, passing a message via Swiss officials, McCormack said.
Washington and Tehran broke off diplomatic ties 27 years ago and US interests in Iran are conducted via Switzerland.
The White House said it was not unusual for an American to go missing in Iran but that the State Department was seeking "as much information as possible."
"It`s not completely a unique scenario to have an American citizen go missing there and possibly need consular support," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino told reporters.
The State Department is trying to "find out if he doesn`t need any support or help," Perino said.
Earlier the CNN television network reported the American was believed to be working for an independent media producer trying to set up interviews when he went missing on Kish Island, a free-trade zone under Iranian authority off its southern coast.
04/02/2007 17:21 GMT