U.S. House Resolution Calls for the Release of Americans in Iran

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution calling for the release of three American prisoners in Iran. The resolution, which was approved on Monday evening with 391 votes in favor and no opposition, also urges the Islamic Republic to cooperate with the U.S. government in locating Robert Levinson, another American who disappeared in Iran about eight years ago. The Obama administration had repeatedly requested Tehran to release American detainees in Iran, which has not yet received a practical response from Tehran. Amir Hekmati, a 31-year-old born in Arizona, has been imprisoned in Iran for nearly four years. He stated that he traveled to Tehran to visit his grandmother and see his parents' hometown but was arrested by security forces shortly after arriving in the Iranian capital. After a period of uncertainty, Iranian authorities accused him of espionage and sentenced him to death, but his sentence was later reduced to ten years in prison. Democrat Dan Kildee, a member of the House of Representatives whose constituency includes Hekmati's family, claims that Hekmati is 'innocent' and a 'political prisoner.' Kildee previously stated in an interview with Radio Farda that he hopes the Iranian government understands that while Congress expresses differing views on many issues, it has a unified stance regarding imprisoned citizens in Iran. Kildee said, 'The Iranian government will not be accepted in the international community until it releases these political prisoners.' Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also stated in a statement provided to Radio Farda that if senior Iranian officials are unable to release American citizens from Iranian prisons, they cannot be trusted to implement the provisions of the nuclear agreement. Royce mentioned in a conversation with Radio Farda that some of these Americans have been 'tortured' in Iran. He expressed hope that these prisoners would be treated better and released as soon as possible. Saeed Abedini, a 35-year-old American pastor, has been imprisoned since late 2012, and Jason Rezaian, a reporter for The Washington Post, has been imprisoned in Evin for nearly a year on espionage charges. Family members of the imprisoned citizens in Iran attended a special meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this month and answered questions from committee members. At the end of this meeting, Amir Hekmati's sister and Saeed Abedini's wife each spoke separately with Radio Farda. Sara Hekmati, Amir's sister, who was also born in the U.S., believes Amir's case is linked to the fate of nuclear negotiations and states, 'In November, Amir's appeal process suddenly stopped, and now the defense attorney is trying to pursue his conditional release by appealing to the Supreme Leader and the head of the judiciary.' Naghmeh Abedini, Saeed's wife, also pointed to his deteriorating physical condition and psychological pressures in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, saying, 'My husband has been imprisoned for nearly three years. The latest news is that he is suffering from physical problems and internal bleeding in Rajai Shahr prison, and his physical condition is not good, and psychological pressures have increased. I think it was in April that nearly 50 people were executed in Rajai Shahr prison, brought from various prisons, and these executions have put a lot of psychological pressure on him. [Saeed] is away from his children. The children have mostly not seen their father for most of their lives.' The resolution of the U.S. House of Representatives emphasizes the urgent need for the Iranian government to release its citizens twice and calls on the Obama administration to continue its efforts for their release. The U.S. Senate also passed a similar resolution unanimously on May 12 of this year. In this context, Amir Hekmati's sister expressed her concerns about her brother's situation in a letter to the Red Cross. The Senate passed a resolution for the release of imprisoned Americans in Iran. The U.S. condemned the 'lack of transparency' in Jason Rezaian's trial. The presence of relatives of four imprisoned Americans in Iran in the U.S. House of Representatives highlights ongoing concerns about their treatment and the broader implications for U.S.-Iran relations.