[PghBaldy]

People are assuming bad intent on his part, but what if he wants to defect, and Obama doesn’t want to upset Iran, so forces him to return, surely to some persecution?

[Enchante]

other reports have said his wife and daughter are still in Iran, plus extended family, and that he became overwhelmed in concern for their fate (not surprising or unknown in Soviet-era defectors):

"Later, he apparently became concerned for family members he had left behind, had a breakdown and decided to return to Iran, US reports claim"