American jailed in Iran allowed to leave, says UN

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An elderly dual American-Iranian national held in Iran has been allowed to leave the country and his son has been released from prison, the United Nations said on Saturday. 

Baquer Namazi, 85, is a former UNICEF official who was arrested in Februray 2016 when he went to Iran to urge the release of his son Siamak, after which both men were sentenced to ten years for espionage.

“The Secretary-General is grateful that, following his appeals to the President of the Republic of Iran, our former colleague Baquer Namazi has been permitted to leave Iran for medical treatment abroad,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN-Secretary General.

The Namazis’ Washington-based lawyer commended their release afterwards on Twitter.

“I am delighted to confirm for the first time in seven years that Siamak #Namazi is spending a night at home with his parents in Tehran. Baquer Namazi’s travel ban has been lifted. We won’t rest until they return to the U.S. & their longtime nightmare has ended,” Jared Genser tweeted. 

Baquer was released on medical leave in 2018 while his son was held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. 

“We will continue to engage with the Iranian authorities on a range of important issues, including the regional situation, sustainable development and the promotion and projection of human rights,” the UN added. 

The US State Department also welcomed the release but said its “efforts are far from over.” 

“We remain committed and determined to securing the freedom of all Americans unjustly detained in Iran and elsewhere. They should be reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

The announcement comes at a time of weeks long protests across Iran over the death in detention of a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa (Zhina) Amini on September 16. Rallies have also taken place around the world in support of the protests in Iran.