Mohammedan prayer Siamak (Siamak Namazi)

Biography

2023: Release from Iranian prison

On August 10, 2023, it became known that five Americans imprisoned in Iran were transferred to house arrest. This is the first step in the agreement between the United States and Iran, which includes providing Tehran with access to previously frozen oil revenues worth approximately $6 billion.

The White House confirmed that US citizens Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz and another American, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, were released from Tehran's Evin prison. Another American is also under house arrest. However, it is noted that "there are a number of things that still need to be worked out" in the proposed deal to return the mentioned citizens home to the United States.

Evin Prison in Tehran

The transfer of these prisoners from prison marks an important initial step in the implementation of this agreement. It will be several weeks before five Americans can return to the United States, the permanent mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN said in a statement.

Namazi was arrested in Iran in 2015 during a business trip. He was accused of "dealing with a hostile state," referring to the US. Namazi holds dual Iranian and U.S. citizenship. Businessman Sharghi and environmentalist Tahbaz were first arrested in 2018. They too hold dual Iranian-American citizenship. All three were declared wrongfully detained by the US State Department.

At the same time, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, speaking at a joint press conference with the Mexican Foreign Minister, said that the agreement does not imply easing sanctions against Iran - even after Tehran releases five American citizens.

In any case, in no respect will Iran receive any sanctions relief, "Blinken said.[1]

Notes