WASHINGTON — President Obama called on Iran Friday to recover U.S. adults believed to be in Tehran’s custody.
In a matter tied to a Iranian holiday of Nowruz, Obama pronounced that “at this time of renewal, care and understanding, we echo my joining to bringing a adults home.”
Three U.S. adults — Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati and Jason Rezaian — are believed to be in prison; a fourth — Robert Levinson — is blank and was final seen in Iran.
The matter comes amid high-stakes negotiations over Iran’s chief program.
The United States and allies are charity to revoke mercantile sanctions on Iran if a supervision gives adult a means to make chief weapons.
“The suggestion of family is deeply woven into all of a abounding informative traditions of a Nowruz holiday,” Obama pronounced in his statement. “It is a time for reuniting and jubilant with desired ones and pity hopes for a new year.”
Obama offering descriptions of a 4 blank Americans:
• “Saeed Abedini of Boise has spent 2½ years incarcerated in Iran on charges associated to his eremite beliefs. He contingency be returned to his mother and dual immature children, who needlessly continue to grow adult but their father.”
• “Amir Hekmati of Flint, Mich., has been detained in Iran on fake espionage charges for over 3½ years. His family, including his father, who is sincerely ill, has borne a pain of Amir’s deficiency for distant too long.”
• “Jason Rezaian of Marin County, Calif., an Iranian supervision credentialed contributor for The Washington Post
“And finally,” a boss wrote, “we recently noted nonetheless another anniversary given Robert Levinson went blank on Kish Island. His family has now endured a hardship of his disappearance for over 8 years.”
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