Iranian American Siamak Namazi, jailed in Iran for almost seven years on espionage-related charges rejected by Washington as baseless, has been allowed out of Tehran’s Evin prison for one week.
Separately, his father, former United Nations official Baquer Namazi, also convicted on charges of “collaboration with a hostile government”, has been allowed to leave Iran for medical treatment, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
It was unclear if the moves are a step toward Siamak’s full release or whether they signal the possible release of other United States citizens detained in Iran.
Iran’s Nournews said an unnamed regional nation had mediated between Tehran and Washington for the “simultaneous release of prisoners”.
The semi-official news agency also reported “billions of dollars of Iran’s frozen assets because of the US sanctions will be released soon”.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the department was grateful Siamak Namazi “has been granted a humanitarian furlough in order to be with his father”.
“We were deeply gratified to learn from the UN Secretary-General that Iran has lifted the travel ban imposed on Baquer Namazi,” he said in a statement.
It was unclear what motivated Tehran’s decisions.
Price thanked US allies and partners who worked to help the Namazis, including the UN Secretary-General, Switzerland, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and the United Kingdom.
Read the article by Arshad Mohammed and Parisa Hafezi in The Singleton Argus.