White House: We are aware of reports regarding the detention of another Iranian-American

Josh Earnest, the White House spokesperson, stated on Friday, November 8, that Washington is aware of reports regarding the detention of another Iranian-American in Iran. According to Reuters, Mr. Earnest, speaking at a press conference, said, "(Barack Obama) prioritizes the release of Americans who have been unjustly detained in Iran." The White House spokesperson did not name the detained individual, but recent reports have emerged regarding the arrest of Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American director of strategic planning at Crescent Petroleum. Earlier, informed sources confirmed to Radio Farda the news of Siamak Namazi's detention in Tehran. Meanwhile, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) expressed concern in a statement regarding the reports of Siamak Namazi's detention. NIAC clarified in its statement that some websites had previously claimed that Mr. Namazi and his family have a strategic role in the National Iranian American Council. However, despite Mr. Namazi knowing NIAC members, he and his family have had no leadership role in this organization. The statement also referenced Mr. Namazi's article on the implications of economic sanctions on Iran's medicine imports for the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. Meanwhile, Reuters reported, citing an unidentified source, that Siamak Namazi was detained by the IRGC intelligence in Iran in mid-October and is currently in solitary confinement at Evin Prison. According to this report, Siamak Namazi traveled from Dubai to Iran in July to visit his family but was barred from leaving and was ultimately arrested in mid-October after repeated interrogations. Siamak Namazi is the fourth Iranian-American citizen to be imprisoned in Iran. Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, and Jason Rezaian are three Iranian-Americans currently detained in Iran. Reports indicate that another American citizen, Robert Levinson, has also gone missing in Iran.