Conspiracy theorists, fire up your Google News Alerts for Ali Resa Asgari.

Asgari, a general in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and former Deputy Defence Minister, is missing. ‘Western sources’, according to the Times, insist he’s defected with ‘a treasure trove of his country’s most closely guarded secrets’. The Iranians say he’s been kidnapped.

Students of ancient history may remember Iraqi ‘defectors’ with information on WMD helping to make the case for war against Saddam Hussein. One ‘defector’, codename ‘Curveball‘, allegedly the brother of a senior aide to convicted fraudster and Iraqi president wannabe, Ahmed Chalabi, whose information was relied upon, later turned out to be peddling what is known in the intelligence community as a load of old cobblers.

It might be worth watching if Asgari starts singing for his supper and what, if any, parts of his testimony makes it into the public domain. Especially into any dossiers that might be drawn up. As Tony Blair would tell you, beware allegations coming from a single uncorroborated source. Tin foil hats on.