US Hostage Leaves Iranian Prison As Tehran Source Reports Prisoner Deal
Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American hostage has been let out of prison in Tehran, as a semi-official Iranian source said there is a prisoner deal with the United States.
Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American hostage has been let out of prison in Tehran, as a semi-official Iranian source said there is a prisoner deal with the United States.
His lawyer Jared Genser told Reuters on Saturday that the furlough is renewable.
United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement that Siamak's father, Baquer Namazi, is being allowed to leave Iran for medical treatment.
However, Iran's Nour news said Saturday that intensive negotiations were held with the mediation of a regional country regarding the simultaneous release of Iranian and American prisoners in recent weeks. Billions of dollars from the blocked resources of Iran are also about to be released in this framework.
US officials have not commented yes about the Namazis, although Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted Saturday afternoon that several Americans jailed in Venezuela will be released.
Baquer Namazi was convicted in Iran of "collaboration with a hostile government" in 2016 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Iranian authorities released him on medical grounds in 2018 and closed his case in 2020, commuting his sentence to time served but effectively barring him from leaving the country.
His son, Siamak, was convicted of the same charge and has been held in Evin prison since 2015. The US government has described the charges against both as baseless.
"I am thrilled for the Namazi family that for the first time in seven years Siamak Namazi is sleeping at home with his family," Genser, who represents the family, told Reuters.
"This is a critical first step but of course we will not rest until the entire family is able to return to the United States and their long nightmare is finally over," Genser added.
