Siamak Namazi (R) and his father Baqer before their 10-year sentences in Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran in 2016
UPDATE, OCT 13:
Oil executive Siamak Namazi has been returned to Evin Prison in Tehran after a temporary furlough which accompanied the October 1 release of his father Baquer.
Lawyer Jared Genser announced the return to Evin on Wednesday, one day before the 7th anniversary of the younger Namazi’s detention:
Yesterday [Tuesday], members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps informed Siamak…that his furlough would not be extended further, without providing any explanation. Late this morning, Siamak was taken back into custody by the IRGC and forced to return to Evin Prison.
Namazi’s brother Babak, said he had hoped his father’s departure “was the beginning of a new, less painful chapter in the struggle to make our family whole again”. But his brother’s return to Evin “has shattered that hope”.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the news was “a tremendous setback” amid speculation that US-Iran prisoner exchanges could follow Baquer Namazi’s release for medical treatment abroad.
ORIGINAL ENTRY, OCT 3: Iran has freed US-Iranian dual national Baquer Namazi, 85, after 6 1/2 years as a political prisoner.
Namazi, a former official of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, was released from medical abroad. His freedom has raised hopes that other dual nationals could follow.
Namazi’s son Siamak, a US-Iranian oil executive held since October 2015, was allowed out of Tehran’s Evin prison on a one-week, renewable furlough.
Baquer Namazi was seized when he went to Evin in March 2016 to enquire about his son’s status. Both men were subsequently given 10-year sentences.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, “The Secretary General is grateful that, following his appeals to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, our former colleague Baquer Namazi has been permitted to leave Iran for medical treatment abroad.”
In January 2016, as the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, UK, France, China, and Russia) was implements, four American citizens were released.
The current nuclear talks are stalled over Iran’s resistance to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Iranian officials initially indicated that Baquer Namazi was free in return for Tehran’s access to some of the $7 billion in frozen assets in South Korea. However, the Biden Administration quickly rejected the claim.
Reports from Iranian sources of a transfer of funds related to the release of Baquer Namazi and furlough of Siamak Namazi are categorically false.
— National Security Council (@WHNSC) October 2, 2022
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman retreated on Monday:
Serious negotiations are underway. The Iranian Foreign Minister had a good meeting with Korean counterpart in New York on the sideline of UN General Assembly. There’s been good progress. We hope to see good things to happen. We’ll later give further information.
Iran continues to imprison other dual and foreign nationals. They include French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, held since 2018; US-Iranian businessmn Emad Shargi, seized in 2018; US-Canadian-Iranian environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, detained since January 2019; French tourist Benjamin Briere; and Swedish-Iranian medical researcher Ahmadreza Djalali, who has faced the death penalty.
Iranian security have detained Swedish and German nationals this year.
” Hassan is a leading reformist figure.”
He belongs to the retiree club of this regime who is still on massive payroll. He is so so happy as long as his comfortable position is not threatened.
Hassan Khomeini condemns the rioting and violence and calls for national dialogue: https://www.mehrnews.com/news/5601978
The grandson of the late Imam also praised the leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei. Hassan is a leading reformist figure.
A careful statement from Khomeini, who knows that he will face the wrath of authorities if he supports the protests.
Still, note what commmenter leaves out — the implicit call by Khomeini for Iran’s leaders to stop repressing demonstrations:
“I want to ask for mercy for those who lost their lives in the recent events, for those who were injured, for health and well-being, for the security guards, success, and for all the people, better and happier days from God Almighty. About what happened last night at Sharif University of Technology [where security forces beat students and fired tear gas on a sit-in], I express my regret and advise the relevant authorities to respect the university as much as possible.”