Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Abdi ya zama darektan kamfanin ra'ayoyin jama'a na Ayandeh kuma ya shiga cikin wani binciken da ya tambayi 'yan Iran idan sun goyi bayan sake dawo da tattaunawar gwamnati da Amurka. A ranar 22 ga Satumba, 2002, kamfanin dillancin labarai na IRNA ya wallafa wani binciken Ayandeh wanda ya nuna cewa kashi 74.4% na 'yan Iran sun fi son sake dawo da dangantaka da Amurka. An kama Abdi a gidansa a ranar 4 ga Nuwamba, 2002, ana zarginsa da "karɓar kuɗi daga ko dai kamfanin binciken Amurka na Gallup ko ofishin jakadancin ƙasashen waje". Abdi ya yi shekaru da yawa a kurkuku a sakamakon haka. A zaben shugaban kasa na 2009
ya kasance daya daga cikin manyan mashawarta ga Mehdi Karoubi.