Nauert: We Demand the Release of All Americans Imprisoned in Iran

The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department welcomed the temporary release of Baqer Namazi while stating that the United States demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Americans who have been "unjustly" imprisoned by the Iranian government. Jared Genser, the lawyer for Baqer and Siamak Namazi, reported on January 28 that due to concerns about Baqer Namazi's health, the 81-year-old father of Siamak Namazi, a four-day leave has been granted. Mr. Namazi, an Iranian-American citizen, went to Iran to visit his imprisoned son Siamak Namazi and ended up being imprisoned himself. He was recently transferred to the hospital due to blood pressure and heart rate issues. Heather Nauert, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, reacted to the lawyer's statements on Twitter, saying: "We welcome the release of Baqer Namazi, given the deterioration of his health, but it should be noted that this is only a temporary release." Ms. Nauert added that the U.S. government "demands the immediate and complete release of the Namazi family, including Siamak, the son of [Baqer Namazi], and other Americans who have been unjustly detained by the Iranian government." Baqer Namazi is a former UNICEF employee. After his son's arrest in Iran, he traveled to Tehran two years ago and was also arrested. The Iranian judiciary accused both of cooperating with "hostile foreign governments" and sentenced them to ten years in prison. These accusations have been denied by the Namazi family's lawyer. Additionally, some analysts and observers of Iranian affairs believe that the Islamic Republic uses the detention of dual citizens as a bargaining tool with some Western countries. Tehran denies this and states that its judiciary makes decisions regarding accusations and convictions "independently." Nevertheless, similar speculations have continued after the release of several Iranian-American citizens on the eve of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Recently, reports have also emerged regarding discussions between Iranian and British officials for the repayment of an old debt owed to Tehran by London, raising speculation about the potential release of Nazanin Zaghari if this repayment is finalized. Besides the Namazis, several other American citizens are also imprisoned in Iran, including Xiyou Wang, a PhD student from Princeton University, who has also been sentenced to ten years for "collaborating with a foreign government." Karen Vafadari and her husband Afrin Niyasari, and Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen with permanent residency in the U.S., are imprisoned in Iran on other charges.