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As Iran vs. West Tensions Rise, So Does Uncertainty Over Prisoners As Iran vs. West Tensions Rise, So Does Uncertainty Over Prisoners
(32 minutes later)
A Navy veteran from California seized in Iran a year ago has yet to speak with his mother. A British-Iranian woman held in a Tehran prison since 2016 has been moved to a hospital psychiatric unit, incommunicado with her family. A French-Iranian scholar has been arrested without explanation while visiting Iran, just as France is exerting diplomacy to help save the nuclear agreement.A Navy veteran from California seized in Iran a year ago has yet to speak with his mother. A British-Iranian woman held in a Tehran prison since 2016 has been moved to a hospital psychiatric unit, incommunicado with her family. A French-Iranian scholar has been arrested without explanation while visiting Iran, just as France is exerting diplomacy to help save the nuclear agreement.
Each case is different, but all share the backdrop of an escalating confrontation between Iran and the United States, and fury among hard-line Iranian conservatives over what they see as Europe’s subservience to America.Each case is different, but all share the backdrop of an escalating confrontation between Iran and the United States, and fury among hard-line Iranian conservatives over what they see as Europe’s subservience to America.
The United States has long contended, since the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, that the Iranians use foreign prisoners as pawns for political leverage. Rights advocates say the prisoners are plunged into a judicial system that is mysterious and arbitrary.The United States has long contended, since the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, that the Iranians use foreign prisoners as pawns for political leverage. Rights advocates say the prisoners are plunged into a judicial system that is mysterious and arbitrary.
At least four American citizens are known to be held in Iran, two of them Iranian dual citizens.(Iran does not recognize dual citizenship.) While the number of foreigners incarcerated in Iran is unclear, the Center for Human Rights in Iran, a research and advocacy group in the United States, said it had documented at least 12, including dual citizens. At least four American citizens are known to be held in Iran, two of them Iranian dual citizens. (Iran does not recognize dual citizenship.) While the number of foreigners incarcerated in Iran is unclear, the Center for Human Rights in Iran, a research and advocacy group in the United States, said it had documented at least 12, including dual citizens.
The group said these cases demonstrate the reach of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which has carried out many of the arrests. The group also said the arrests, particularly of Iranians with foreign passports, are meant to send a message of intimidation and reflect “hard-liners’ efforts to prevent Iran’s engagement with the West.”The group said these cases demonstrate the reach of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which has carried out many of the arrests. The group also said the arrests, particularly of Iranians with foreign passports, are meant to send a message of intimidation and reflect “hard-liners’ efforts to prevent Iran’s engagement with the West.”
For their part, Iranian officials have said that more than a dozen Iranians are being held by the United States, often on charges of American sanctions violations that Iran regards as illegal. Just this past week, the Justice Department announced the extradition of an Iranian from Germany on charges of having sought to illicitly export large amounts of carbon fiber from the United States to Iran. The material can be used in uranium enrichment.For their part, Iranian officials have said that more than a dozen Iranians are being held by the United States, often on charges of American sanctions violations that Iran regards as illegal. Just this past week, the Justice Department announced the extradition of an Iranian from Germany on charges of having sought to illicitly export large amounts of carbon fiber from the United States to Iran. The material can be used in uranium enrichment.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif proposed a few months ago that Iran and the United States negotiate a prisoner exchange. Attempts via back channels have been rumored, but officials from both sides have declined to comment.Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif proposed a few months ago that Iran and the United States negotiate a prisoner exchange. Attempts via back channels have been rumored, but officials from both sides have declined to comment.
For relatives of the Americans, the basic lack of information about their cases in Iran’s opaque judicial system, coupled with the rising tensions over the nuclear agreement and other issues, has amplified the stress.For relatives of the Americans, the basic lack of information about their cases in Iran’s opaque judicial system, coupled with the rising tensions over the nuclear agreement and other issues, has amplified the stress.
“I feel like this has gone on forever — there’s no ending,” said Joanne White, the mother of Michael R. White, 47, a Navy veteran and throat-cancer survivor who was arrested last July in the northeast city of Mashhad while visiting an Iranian friend.“I feel like this has gone on forever — there’s no ending,” said Joanne White, the mother of Michael R. White, 47, a Navy veteran and throat-cancer survivor who was arrested last July in the northeast city of Mashhad while visiting an Iranian friend.
The mother, who has been unable to speak with her son because he has no telephone privileges in prison, said she had been struggling to raise money via GoFundMe for an Iranian lawyer to help represent him.The mother, who has been unable to speak with her son because he has no telephone privileges in prison, said she had been struggling to raise money via GoFundMe for an Iranian lawyer to help represent him.
In March, Mr. White, of Imperial City, Calif., was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on charges that included posting private photographs on social media and insulting Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But he also may face additional charges that include espionage, according to a State Department email to Mrs. White that she shared with The New York Times during a telephone interview this week.In March, Mr. White, of Imperial City, Calif., was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on charges that included posting private photographs on social media and insulting Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But he also may face additional charges that include espionage, according to a State Department email to Mrs. White that she shared with The New York Times during a telephone interview this week.
“I feel very concerned. I don’t know what they would do to Mike,” she said.“I feel very concerned. I don’t know what they would do to Mike,” she said.
An appeal of the conviction is scheduled for Monday in a Mashhad court, his mother said, explaining that she is getting most of her information about Mr. White’s case from State Department officials.An appeal of the conviction is scheduled for Monday in a Mashhad court, his mother said, explaining that she is getting most of her information about Mr. White’s case from State Department officials.
But those officials have no firsthand knowledge: They have been relaying updates by telephone and email to Mrs. White from Switzerland’s embassy in Tehran, which handles the consular activities of American citizens for the United States. Swiss diplomats have visited her son three times, Mrs. White said, most recently on May 7.But those officials have no firsthand knowledge: They have been relaying updates by telephone and email to Mrs. White from Switzerland’s embassy in Tehran, which handles the consular activities of American citizens for the United States. Swiss diplomats have visited her son three times, Mrs. White said, most recently on May 7.
According to the State Department’s email to her about the most recent visit, Mr. White shares a cell with 14 inmates and “has access to the courtyard where there are sports and to a library.” The email said the Swiss had been prevented from bringing him food and had deposited money in his prison account “so Michael will be able to purchase additional food to prepare.”According to the State Department’s email to her about the most recent visit, Mr. White shares a cell with 14 inmates and “has access to the courtyard where there are sports and to a library.” The email said the Swiss had been prevented from bringing him food and had deposited money in his prison account “so Michael will be able to purchase additional food to prepare.”
The other three American citizens known to be held in Iran are Xiyue Wang, 38, a Princeton University graduate student; Siamak Namazi, 46, a business consultant; and his father, Baquer Namazi, 83, a former Unicef diplomat. All were sentenced to 10 years on espionage charges that they have denied.The other three American citizens known to be held in Iran are Xiyue Wang, 38, a Princeton University graduate student; Siamak Namazi, 46, a business consultant; and his father, Baquer Namazi, 83, a former Unicef diplomat. All were sentenced to 10 years on espionage charges that they have denied.
Another American, Robert Levinson, 71, a former F.B.I. agent, has been missing in Iran for 12 years, and his family has said he is a captive there. Iranian officials have said they have no knowledge of his whereabouts.Another American, Robert Levinson, 71, a former F.B.I. agent, has been missing in Iran for 12 years, and his family has said he is a captive there. Iranian officials have said they have no knowledge of his whereabouts.
In Britain, the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation charity, has attracted attention since she was arrested while visiting Iran three years ago with her toddler daughter. She was accused of sedition.In Britain, the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation charity, has attracted attention since she was arrested while visiting Iran three years ago with her toddler daughter. She was accused of sedition.
Iranian officials have dropped hints periodically that she might be freed. But British-Iranian relations have worsened significantly in the past few weeks over Britain’s impoundment of an Iranian tanker, which Ayatollah Khamenei called piracy by the “vicious British.”Iranian officials have dropped hints periodically that she might be freed. But British-Iranian relations have worsened significantly in the past few weeks over Britain’s impoundment of an Iranian tanker, which Ayatollah Khamenei called piracy by the “vicious British.”
On Wednesday, the family said Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been moved from Evin Prison to a hospital psychiatric unit for reasons that remained unclear.On Wednesday, the family said Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been moved from Evin Prison to a hospital psychiatric unit for reasons that remained unclear.
“Even now it still seems like games of power and control are being played by the Iranian authorities — even at the point of hospitalization,” her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said in a statement.“Even now it still seems like games of power and control are being played by the Iranian authorities — even at the point of hospitalization,” her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said in a statement.
The Iran prisoner issue most recently entangled France, just as President Emmanuel Macron was engaged in a diplomatic outreach with Iran to reduce tensions over the fraying 2015 nuclear agreement that was abandoned by the United States last year.The Iran prisoner issue most recently entangled France, just as President Emmanuel Macron was engaged in a diplomatic outreach with Iran to reduce tensions over the fraying 2015 nuclear agreement that was abandoned by the United States last year.
On Monday, France’s Foreign Ministry said Fariba Adelkhah, an academic with dual French and Iranian citizenship who is a prominent anthropologist at the Sciences Po university in Paris, had been arrested in Iran and denied contact with French consular officials.On Monday, France’s Foreign Ministry said Fariba Adelkhah, an academic with dual French and Iranian citizenship who is a prominent anthropologist at the Sciences Po university in Paris, had been arrested in Iran and denied contact with French consular officials.
Iran has not explained why she was arrested, despite French demands that the Iranian authorities “shed full light on Mrs. Adelkhah’s situation.”Iran has not explained why she was arrested, despite French demands that the Iranian authorities “shed full light on Mrs. Adelkhah’s situation.”