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U.S. to Iran ahead of nuclear talks: Free detained Americans

The U.S. Administration renewed its call Thursday evening for Iran to release detained Americans Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati and Saeed Abedini.

By JC Finley
Jason Rezaian, Tehran correspondent for the Washington Post, has been detained by Iranian authorities since July 22, 2014. (Twitter)
Jason Rezaian, Tehran correspondent for the Washington Post, has been detained by Iranian authorities since July 22, 2014. (Twitter)

NEW YORK, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- On the eve of the latest round of Iranian nuclear negotiations, the U.S. renewed its call for the release of American citizens detained in Iran.

A senior Administration official, speaking anonymously to reporters per State Department policy regarding the nuclear talks, underlined that while Iranian officials are expected to comment openly about the negotiations, Iran is at the same time restricting the freedom of speech of detained Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian.

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"Over the next week and a half, you're also going to hear a lot from President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif about these nuclear negotiations, maybe about some other issues as well. It's worth pointing out, particularly to those of you in this room, that at this moment, while senior Iranian officials have the benefit of the freedom of our press, a U.S. citizen sits in an Iranian prison, a journalist for one of our top newspapers, The Washington Post. Jason Rezaian should be freed immediately."

Rezaian was one of three American journalists detained in July by Iranian authorities for unknown reasons. His wife, Yeganeh Salehi, an Iranian citizen and writer for the United Arab Emirates newspaper National, is also in detention.

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"The other American citizens being detained by Iran should also be freed as well," the official said, apparently referring to Amir Hekmati and Saeed Abedini.

Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in 2011 while visiting his grandmother in Iran. He wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry a year ago, insisting that he was under duress when he confessed to spying on Iran.

Abedini, a Christian pastor, was detained in 2012 on charges related to his religious beliefs.

"And additionally, we appeal again for Iran's assistance in locating and bringing Robert Levinson home," the official added.

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