Detained Americans In Iran Must Be Released Says Clinton

The State Department sent a clear message to the Iranian government today: Return our Americans.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her concern over the Americans that have been detained by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government recently and in 2007. The Iranian government has a reputation of arresting people without cause, sometimes keeping them imprisoned for years or never telling the US government what happened to them.

Earlier this month former President Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea to free two American journalists that had been arrested by the Communist government there. And, back in May, the Iranian government finally released another journalist, Roxana Saberi after she was arrested over charges of “espionage” in April. But the State Department’s work is not over since there are many more Americans that should be returned to their families, says Clinton.

Here is Hillary Clinton’s statement from today:

The United States is deeply concerned about the welfare of our American citizens who have been detained or are missing in Iran. We once again urge Iran’s leadership to quickly resolve all outstanding American citizen cases.

This includes the case of the American scholar, Kian Tajbakhsh, who has spent his career working to enhance mutual understanding between Iran and the United States. The government of Iran should immediately release Mr. Tajbakhsh from detention and allow him to depart Iran to continue his academic pursuits.

Regarding the three American hikers, Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd, who were detained by Iranian authorities on July 31, we once again call on the Iranian government to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention by granting consular access and releasing these three young Americans without further delay.

We also remain concerned about the case of Robert Levinson, who has been missing in Iran since March 9, 2007. We call on the Government of Iran to assist in providing any information on his whereabouts and in ensuring his prompt return to the United States.

Our goal is to ensure the safe return of all our missing or unjustly detained American citizens to the United States as quickly as possible so that they can be reunited with their families.

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