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| Congressman for Iran Prisoner’s Family Backs Nuclear Accord | Congressman for Iran Prisoner’s Family Backs Nuclear Accord |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A congressman whose constituents include the family of the longest-held American prisoner in Iran said Thursday that he had decided to vote in favor of the nuclear agreement reached with Iran on July 14. | A congressman whose constituents include the family of the longest-held American prisoner in Iran said Thursday that he had decided to vote in favor of the nuclear agreement reached with Iran on July 14. |
| The congressman, Dan Kildee, a Michigan Democrat who has become an outspoken advocate for the prisoner, Amir Hekmati, and other Americans held or missing in Iran, said in a telephone interview that he had informed President Obama of his decision on Wednesday night. He also said he had informed the Hekmati family, who live in Flint. | The congressman, Dan Kildee, a Michigan Democrat who has become an outspoken advocate for the prisoner, Amir Hekmati, and other Americans held or missing in Iran, said in a telephone interview that he had informed President Obama of his decision on Wednesday night. He also said he had informed the Hekmati family, who live in Flint. |
| “For me, once I know where I am, there’s no sense in prolonging the question,” Mr. Kildee said. “I do think it’s important that we evaluate the agreement on its own merits, and the case of the Americans is a consideration but shouldn’t be determinative.” | “For me, once I know where I am, there’s no sense in prolonging the question,” Mr. Kildee said. “I do think it’s important that we evaluate the agreement on its own merits, and the case of the Americans is a consideration but shouldn’t be determinative.” |
| Mr. Kildee’s assessment of the nuclear accord is important because the debate in Congress over whether to support it has become entangled with the prisoner issue. How he decides to vote could help sway others. | |
| The agreement would end economic sanctions on Iran in return for a large reduction in its nuclear activities and verifiable guarantees that they remain peaceful. Critics argue that Iran has used the prisoners as hostages and should not be rewarded for it. | The agreement would end economic sanctions on Iran in return for a large reduction in its nuclear activities and verifiable guarantees that they remain peaceful. Critics argue that Iran has used the prisoners as hostages and should not be rewarded for it. |
| The Obama administration says that without such an agreement, Iran would be free to accelerate its nuclear work and would have the capability to become a nuclear-weapons state within months. | The Obama administration says that without such an agreement, Iran would be free to accelerate its nuclear work and would have the capability to become a nuclear-weapons state within months. |
| Mr. Kildee said that based on his own reading of the agreement, putting aside the prisoner question, he had concluded that it was important to approve it. | Mr. Kildee said that based on his own reading of the agreement, putting aside the prisoner question, he had concluded that it was important to approve it. |
| “This is the most consequential vote that I will have cast in my entire life in politics,” he said, calling it the kind of vote he will want to be able to “explain to my grandchildren in 30 years.” | “This is the most consequential vote that I will have cast in my entire life in politics,” he said, calling it the kind of vote he will want to be able to “explain to my grandchildren in 30 years.” |
| If the agreement fails, he said, “the fate of these Americans becomes far less certain.” At the same time, he added, “I don’t come to the conclusion that I support the agreement because of that.” | If the agreement fails, he said, “the fate of these Americans becomes far less certain.” At the same time, he added, “I don’t come to the conclusion that I support the agreement because of that.” |
| In a statement released later by his office, Mr. Kildee said he would support the agreement because he had concluded that it would “make the world a safer place and is in the best interest of the U.S., our allies and the global community.” | |
| Mr. Hekmati’s sister, Sarah, praised Mr. Kildee in a statement that said he personifed “how a public servant should represent his constituents.” Without commenting on the nuclear agreement itself, she said, “We do know that Amir’s release would help increase support of the deal in the Congress.” | |
| Mr. Hekmati, 32, a Marine veteran of Iranian descent, was seized in Iran nearly four years ago while he was in the country to visit his grandmother for the first time. He is serving a 10-year sentence on charges of aiding a hostile power, meaning the United States. | Mr. Hekmati, 32, a Marine veteran of Iranian descent, was seized in Iran nearly four years ago while he was in the country to visit his grandmother for the first time. He is serving a 10-year sentence on charges of aiding a hostile power, meaning the United States. |
| The other Americans held in Iran are Saeed Abedini, 35, a pastor from Boise, Idaho, who is serving an eight-year prison sentence on charges of undermining national security, and Jason Rezaian, 39, of Marin County, Calif., The Washington Post’s Tehran correspondent, who is on trial on charges including espionage and hostile acts. | The other Americans held in Iran are Saeed Abedini, 35, a pastor from Boise, Idaho, who is serving an eight-year prison sentence on charges of undermining national security, and Jason Rezaian, 39, of Marin County, Calif., The Washington Post’s Tehran correspondent, who is on trial on charges including espionage and hostile acts. |
| A fourth American, Robert A. Levinson, 67, a former F.B.I. agent from southern Florida, disappeared in Iran eight years ago. | A fourth American, Robert A. Levinson, 67, a former F.B.I. agent from southern Florida, disappeared in Iran eight years ago. |
| All of the prisoners have asserted their innocence, and the Obama administration has repeatedly called on Iran to release them and provide information on the whereabouts of Mr. Levinson. | All of the prisoners have asserted their innocence, and the Obama administration has repeatedly called on Iran to release them and provide information on the whereabouts of Mr. Levinson. |
| Mr. Kildee said his support for the nuclear accord did not mean he believed Iran was a “good player” internationally. | Mr. Kildee said his support for the nuclear accord did not mean he believed Iran was a “good player” internationally. |
| “We have to deal with Iran with all of its bad behavior,” he said. “This agreement allows us to do that without the likelihood of Iran with nuclear weapons.” | “We have to deal with Iran with all of its bad behavior,” he said. “This agreement allows us to do that without the likelihood of Iran with nuclear weapons.” |