White House: We Hold Iran Responsible for the Health of Baqer Namazi

On Wednesday, February 7, the White House issued a statement warning Iran that it is responsible for maintaining the health of Baqer Namazi, an 81-year-old Iranian-American citizen. Mr. Namazi was forced to return to Evin Prison on Tuesday despite being advised to continue his medical treatment. The White House statement reads: "He (Baqer Namazi) requires medical treatment, and the United States government holds Iran fully responsible for his health." The statement adds: "The Trump administration calls on Iran to immediately and unconditionally end the unjust imprisonment of citizens detained in Iran and to release those who are missing, including Baqer Namazi and his son Siamak Namazi, Xiao Wang, and Robert Levinson." Baqer Namazi, a former UNICEF employee, was arrested two years ago while visiting Tehran to see his son. Baqer and Siamak Namazi were sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly collaborating with "hostile foreign governments." Karen Vafadari and her husband Afrin Niyasari, and Nizar Zaka, a Lebanese citizen with permanent residency in the U.S., are imprisoned in Iran on various charges. On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department expressed deep regret over the news of Baqer Namazi's summons to return to Evin Prison and stated that Washington demands Tehran release "all American citizens imprisoned in Iran." Heather Nauert, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, said at her press conference: "We are deeply saddened to hear about [Baqer Namazi]'s return to prison by the Iranian government." Baqer Namazi has been in prison since January 2016. He has been hospitalized four times in the past two years, and this September, a pacemaker was installed for his heart on doctors' recommendations. In addition to Baqer and Siamak Namazi, several other American citizens are currently imprisoned in Iran, including Xiao Wang, a Princeton doctoral student who was conducting research in Iran and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "collaborating with a foreign government." Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent, has been missing for 10 years. He was last seen on Kish Island, but the Iranian government claims it has no information about Mr. Levinson's fate or whereabouts.