White House Reaction to Transfer of Imprisoned Americans: We Are Monitoring the Situation Closely

Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, described the transfer of "five imprisoned" Iranian Americans from Evin Prison to house arrest as a "hopeful step." She mentioned the names Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Sharqi, stating that two other Americans, who should not have been detained at all, prefer to remain anonymous for now. Watson emphasized that the Biden administration is closely monitoring their conditions and "we will not rest until all of them return to the United States." The spokesperson refrained from providing details about their status in house arrest or the Biden administration's efforts to ensure their freedom, while referencing ongoing "delicate and sensitive" negotiations for the final release of these American citizens. Jared Genser, attorney for Siamak Namazi, reported on Thursday that four imprisoned American citizens were transferred to a hotel in Tehran. According to Genser, these individuals will be kept in the hotel for several weeks until permission is granted for their departure from Iran. He expressed hope that this transfer would pave the way for their final release and return to the United States, while noting that there are no guarantees about what will happen next. Genser also mentioned that the hotel will be under the supervision of Iranian authorities but did not disclose its name. Concurrently, the New York Times reported the transfer of five American citizens to a hotel, citing informed sources who stated that the Biden administration agreed to the release of several prisoners convicted of circumventing U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic. These sources indicated that the Biden administration also agreed to transfer nearly six billion dollars of Iran's blocked assets in South Korea to an account at the Central Bank of Qatar, which will be controlled by the Qatari government, allowing Iran to use it for humanitarian purposes such as medicine and food. The family of Siamak Namazi recently confirmed via a video call that Iranian-American prisoners Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, and Morad Tahbaz were released from Evin Prison and were on their way to house arrest. They learned early Thursday that the three, along with a fourth unidentified American hostage, were taken together to the prison office, where they were officially informed of their transfer to house arrest and subsequently agreed to it in writing. The families of the four American hostages had previously been informed by the Biden administration on Wednesday afternoon that the four were expected to be transferred to house arrest. Although the fourth American prisoner was not directly seen leaving Evin Prison, given their joint presence in the prison office, it is believed that he was transferred along with the other three, although this has not yet been confirmed. Meanwhile, it appears that the fifth American, an unidentified woman whose detention was recently made public, is currently under house arrest. In response to these developments, Babak Namazi, brother of Siamak Namazi, stated: "We are grateful that Siamak and the other Americans in Iran have been released from Evin Prison and are under house arrest." He added: "While this is a positive development, we will not cease our efforts until Siamak and the others return home. We continue to count the days until this happens." Mr. Namazi noted: "We have endured a horrific and indescribable suffering for eight years, and we hope to be together as a family again." The Islamic Republic confirmed the transfer of imprisoned Americans from Evin. The Islamic Republic's representative at the United Nations confirmed on Thursday what it called "the news of the exit of dual-national American prisoners from Evin Prison." According to the state news agency IRNA, the representative stated: "This exit took place within the framework of an agreement mediated by a third country to mutually release and pardon the five targeted prisoners." The report did not mention the names of the dual-national prisoners or the third country involved. A look at the status of some Iranian-American dual nationals: Emad Sharqi: He was imprisoned in Evin on May 23, 2018, on charges of "espionage and undermining national security." This Iranian-American businessman and investor was acquitted of all charges after eight months but was re-arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison. In May of this year, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of Emad Sharqi's imprisonment, senior U.S. officials, including Robert Malley, former special representative for Iran; Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senator Jim Risch, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. State Department, called for the immediate release of this Iranian-American dual national. Emad Sharqi's wife and two daughters had repeatedly requested a meeting with Joe Biden in recent months. The family of Emad Sharqi, along with the families of other Iranian-American citizens imprisoned by the Islamic Republic, gathered in front of the White House on May 2 of this year, urging President Biden to prioritize the release of their loved ones from captivity in the Islamic Republic. Neda Sharqi, sister of Emad Sharqi, who attended the gathering, announced in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America the creation of a campaign called "Bring Our Family Home." She stated: "With the help of several freed American hostages, we plan to introduce Iranian-American hostages imprisoned in the Islamic Republic to the American public and media and seek a meeting with President Biden." Siamak Namazi: This Iranian-American businessman was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic on October 13, 2015. Baqer Namazi, Siamak's father, was also arrested on March 1 of the same year when he entered Iran to visit his son. Siamak and Baqer were sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of collaborating with a foreign government on October 19, 2016. Baqer Namazi, who was 79 years old at the time of his arrest, was allowed to leave Iran last October at the age of 85 after six and a half years in captivity. Siamak, who is now 52 years old and has spent more time in prison than any other Iranian-American, went on a hunger strike for a week last winter to mark the seventh anniversary of his imprisonment in Iran. After breaking his hunger strike, he urged President Biden in an interview with CNN to hear his voice and that of other Iranian-American prisoners. Morad Tahbaz: This 67-year-old Iranian-American businessman and environmental activist, who also holds British citizenship, was arrested in February 2018. He was sentenced to ten years in prison in February 2020 on charges such as collaborating with the U.S. During the temporary release of Nazanin Zaghari and Anooshah Ashouri in March 2022, Morad Tahbaz was also temporarily released for 48 hours and then returned to prison. Tara Tahbaz, Morad's daughter, told Reuters earlier this month that her father has prostate cancer and has contracted COVID-19 three times in prison. Roxana Tahbaz, another daughter of Morad Tahbaz, stated in an interview with The Guardian last year that the British Foreign Office has forgotten her father and family. Shahab Dalili: This Iranian citizen with permanent residency in the U.S. was imprisoned in Iran in 2016 when he returned to Iran for his father's funeral. Mr. Dalili's wife stated in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America last April that Shahab was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges such as collaborating with foreign governments. In this interview, she explained her prolonged silence regarding Mr. Dalili's imprisonment, stating that she hoped her actions would lead to a change in his sentence or a reduction in his punishment. Observers of Iranian affairs say that the Islamic Republic aims to use the detention of citizens from other countries, especially dual nationals, as leverage in negotiations with other countries, effectively taking them hostage with false accusations. Many Western countries, including U.S. officials, have repeatedly warned dual nationals that travel to Iran is risky due to the actions of the Islamic Republic and have urged them to avoid putting themselves at risk by traveling to Iran, even for family visits. The newspaper "Khorasan" claims that the fourth American prisoner in Iran is a woman. The U.S. continues efforts to free American citizens wrongfully detained in Iran. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democratic representative, stated that all American hostages must be freed from Iran. A Democratic member of Congress suggested that Joe Biden appoint a special representative regarding hostages in Iran. Baqer Namazi on Father's Day: Bring dual nationals imprisoned in Iran home.