False charges by Tehran

Re “Iran accuses 2 doctors of ties to a U.S. plot,” Jan. 20

I was a collaborator, colleague and friend of Kamiar Alaei during his time at the Harvard School of Public Health. The charges brought against the two brothers are absolutely ridiculous, given their known dedication to the public health of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the world at large.

Kamiar and Arash pioneered what became a world-acclaimed program in Iran for harm reduction toward HIV/AIDS. Both brothers were dedicated to sharing this model with other Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries. The thought that such compassionate physicians could be falsely charged for political purposes is very disturbing. Not only will it change the nature of scientific collaboration between countries, but it takes attention away from the real enemy, the HIV virus.

Margaret Salmon MD

Loma Linda