Kaine, Coons Statement Calling For Release Of Americans Wrongfully Detained In Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Chris Coons, both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement calling for the release of the American citizens and legal residents wrongfully detained in Iran:

"As members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we call for the immediate release of all wrongfully imprisoned on groundless charges by the Iranian regime. This includes those individuals listed in a heartbreaking letter written by their families and published by the Center for Human Rights in Iran that alleges torture. We are especially concerned about the detained American citizens and legal residents Robert Levinson, Baquer and Siamak Namazi, Nizar Zakka, and Xiyue Wang. We encourage the Trump administration to continue diplomatic engagement with Iran to secure the release of these political prisoners. We will press for their release until they are home and reunited with their loved ones, and we will hold Iran accountable for these human rights abuses."

Today, families of these American citizens and residents published an open letter to world leaders, human rights organizations, and the media to bring attention to the detainment of these individuals.

###