WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Iran to release Americans held in Iran, including three hikers detained in late July.
In a statement Saturday, she singled out the hikers and some others by name, including American scholar Kian Tajbakhsh, an expert on urban planning and urban policy, who was arrested July 9.
Clinton said he "has spent his career working to enhance mutual understanding between Iran and the United States."
"The government of Iran should immediately release Mr. Tajbakhsh from detention and allow him to depart Iran to continue his academic pursuits."
Clinton also called for immediate release of hikers Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd, who were detained by Iranian authorities July 31.
And she urged Iran to provide information on Robert Levinson, who has been missing in that country since March 9, 2007.