Increased Efforts by the U.S. Government for the Release of Dual Nationals in Iran

According to reports from the U.S., the efforts of that country's government to secure the release of Iranian-American prisoners in Iran have intensified. American media, citing senior White House officials, state that the Trump administration is evaluating a "set of pressures" on Tehran to release dual nationals. Reports from the United States indicate that the Donald Trump administration has taken further actions aimed at the release of U.S. citizens imprisoned in other countries. Among those mentioned are Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American businessman, and his father, Baquer Namazi. Siamak Namazi, a former director of strategic planning at the Crescent Oil Company, was arrested in 2015 during a trip to Iran. At a time when the Obama administration successfully negotiated the release of several dual nationals alongside nuclear talks with Tehran, Mr. Namazi was not among them. Shortly thereafter, Iranian judicial authorities also arrested his elderly and ill father, Baquer Namazi, who is 81 years old and remains imprisoned. In October of last year, both Siamak and Baquer Namazi were sentenced to 10 years in prison. The Iranian judiciary's news agency, Mizan, quoted an informed source stating that their charges were "collaboration with the U.S. government." On June 30, a senior U.S. official told the Washington Post that President Trump personally and directly requested the use of all efforts to bring back as many detained Americans abroad as possible: "This is exactly what is happening with the Namazis, and we want to extend it to all matters related to Iran and beyond." The same newspaper reports that in addition to ongoing "behind-the-scenes" efforts for the Namazis' release, senior members of the Trump administration, including his Deputy National Security Advisor, have met face-to-face with Babak, Siamak Namazi's brother. Babak Namazi told the Washington Post that "new hopes" have emerged regarding the Trump administration's efforts to free his family members. Specific details of the existing or planned actions by the U.S. government are not clear, but two senior officials told the Washington Post that these actions "involve a set of pressures... which are all currently confidential, but among them, there is more stick than carrot." CBS News also confirmed the meeting between Babak Namazi and senior government officials. According to CBS, following the return of Otto Warmbier, an American student imprisoned in North Korea who was in a coma and died shortly after returning to the U.S., efforts for the Namazis' release have gained new urgency, especially due to Baquer Namazi's age and health condition. The network also states that Dina Powell, Trump's Deputy National Security Advisor, plays a key role in recent efforts to free American prisoners abroad.