Afkhami: Tehran Seeks Consular Access to Iranian Prisoners in the U.S.

Tehran has announced that it is seeking consular access to 19 Iranian citizens who have been imprisoned in the United States on charges of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Wednesday, September 4, reflecting the statements of the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who emphasized that Tehran is concerned about the situation of Iranian prisoners in the U.S. According to this report, Marzieh Afkhami stated in her weekly press conference that 19 Iranians are in U.S. prisons 'due to issues related to sanctions and allegations of violating U.S. sanctions.' The spokesperson mentioned that some of these Iranian nationals are 'still under supervision even after their sentence and do not have full freedom.' Previously, Hassan Qashqavi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's consular deputy, had stated that 16 Iranians were imprisoned in the U.S. for allegedly circumventing U.S. sanctions against Iran. Mr. Qashqavi also emphasized that while Iran is seeking the release of these citizens, the issue of exchanging Iranian and American prisoners is not a reality, referring to the situation of Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter in Iran. Mr. Rezaian, who has been detained in Tehran for 13 months, is accused of espionage and is currently awaiting a verdict from the Tehran Revolutionary Court. During this time, reports have circulated about a potential exchange of him with Iranian prisoners in the U.S., which the U.S. government has denied. However, in the press conference on Wednesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also stated that Tehran is seeking to defend the rights of Iranian prisoners in the U.S. Marzieh Afkhami said: 'None of the human rights organizations, including UN rapporteurs, have made any statements regarding the follow-up on the situation of Iranian prisoners. We are seeking consular access to these individuals and have always demanded the defense of prisoners' rights.' U.S. courts have so far examined multiple cases related to violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran, some of which have resulted in prison sentences. Among these sentences is 51 months in prison for Davood Bani-Amiri, an Iranian citizen residing in California, who confessed to illegally exporting missile parts to Iran. In cases related to violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran, the names of some non-Iranian nationals have also appeared, including the case of Christopher Napin, a British businessman who was extradited to the U.S. by Britain. In this context, six individuals in the U.S. have been accused of violating trade sanctions against Iran, one person has been convicted of sending military equipment to Iran, and one American citizen has been convicted of violating sanctions against Iran.