This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/08/john-kerry-us-prisoner-iran-siamak-namazi
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Groups urge Kerry to work for release of US businessman detained in Iran | Groups urge Kerry to work for release of US businessman detained in Iran |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Five Iranian-American groups wrote to secretary of state John Kerry last week, urging him to work for the release of an Iranian-American businessman who has been detained in Iran since October. | Five Iranian-American groups wrote to secretary of state John Kerry last week, urging him to work for the release of an Iranian-American businessman who has been detained in Iran since October. |
| The letter, delivered on Friday, said there was no evidence to justify the detention of Siamak Namazi, who it said was “left behind” in the wake of a US-Iran prisoner deal that saw other Americans released from Iranian jails last month. | The letter, delivered on Friday, said there was no evidence to justify the detention of Siamak Namazi, who it said was “left behind” in the wake of a US-Iran prisoner deal that saw other Americans released from Iranian jails last month. |
| “An American who has worked tirelessly as a bridge-builder of cultures, countries, and faiths is sitting in a prison in Tehran,” said the letter, which was signed by the National Iranian American Council, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans and other groups. | “An American who has worked tirelessly as a bridge-builder of cultures, countries, and faiths is sitting in a prison in Tehran,” said the letter, which was signed by the National Iranian American Council, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans and other groups. |
| “We urge you to work tirelessly to pursue Siamak Namazi’s release.“ | “We urge you to work tirelessly to pursue Siamak Namazi’s release.“ |
| Namazi, who is based in Dubai, was visiting relatives in Iran when he was detained. Most recently, he was working for Crescent Petroleum, an oil and gas company in the United Arab Emirates, and previously he headed a consulting firm in Iran. | Namazi, who is based in Dubai, was visiting relatives in Iran when he was detained. Most recently, he was working for Crescent Petroleum, an oil and gas company in the United Arab Emirates, and previously he headed a consulting firm in Iran. |
| “The US government does everything and will continue to do everything it can on behalf of its citizens detained around the world who request our assistance,” Sam Werberg, press officer for the state department’s Office of Iranian Affairs, said by email on Sunday. | “The US government does everything and will continue to do everything it can on behalf of its citizens detained around the world who request our assistance,” Sam Werberg, press officer for the state department’s Office of Iranian Affairs, said by email on Sunday. |
| Namazi’s family declined to comment. | Namazi’s family declined to comment. |
| Iranian officials have not announced any charges against Namazi. On Sunday, an Iranian judiciary official said there were several dual nationals being held in Iran on espionage charges, Iranian media reported. | Iranian officials have not announced any charges against Namazi. On Sunday, an Iranian judiciary official said there were several dual nationals being held in Iran on espionage charges, Iranian media reported. |
| Related: 'A good day': Obama hails release of Jason Rezaian and other Americans from Iran | Related: 'A good day': Obama hails release of Jason Rezaian and other Americans from Iran |
| The letter comes three weeks after four other Iranian Americans, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, were released from prison by Iranian authorities. In return, US authorities granted clemency to seven Iranians in the United States, and moved to drop international arrest orders and charges against 14 other Iranians outside America. | |
| The release of the Americans came after extensive public campaigns waged by their family members and US officials. On the sidelines of nuclear negotiations, US diplomats “used every meeting to push Iran” to release the men, Barack Obama said last month. | The release of the Americans came after extensive public campaigns waged by their family members and US officials. On the sidelines of nuclear negotiations, US diplomats “used every meeting to push Iran” to release the men, Barack Obama said last month. |
| US authorities have described the prisoner exchange as a “one-time, unique agreement” and said the United States has told Iran it does not expect to repeat the deal. | US authorities have described the prisoner exchange as a “one-time, unique agreement” and said the United States has told Iran it does not expect to repeat the deal. |
| In a speech last month, Kerry said the United States was still working to find out what happened to Robert Levinson, a former US law enforcement agent who disappeared while visiting Iran in 2007. Kerry did not mention Namazi in his remarks. |