Iran Convicts Iranian-American Nationals for Espionage, Collusion
On October 19, Iran sentenced sixof its citizens to 10 years in prison. Those convicted included Siamak Namazi and his father Baqer, both of whom are Iranian-American dual nationals.One day earlier, Iran’s judicial news agency, Mizan, released a video containing images of the businessman Siamak. The video marks the first time that Siamak was seen publicly since his arrest for espionage and collusion in October 2015. Baqer, a former UNICEF representative and Iranian provincial governor, was arrested this February when he traveled to Iran to pursue his son’s release. Baquer’s wife has expressed concerns that he has “serious heart and other conditions” which require medication.
The video is just over a minute long and juxtaposes images of American militarism such as drones, a military uniform, and kneeling soldiers with Siamak Nazami’s U.S. passport. The video also includes images of Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American journalist who was convicted in October 2015 and released this January as part of a prisoner swap.
Jason Rezaian at a ceremony after his release with Secretary of State John Kerry.
Mark Toner, the U.S. State Department’s deputy spokesman, expressed concerns that the Namazis had been “unjustly detained” and demanded their immediate release.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi responded to the State Department’s message on October 20. “The Iranian nation and government don’t attach any importance to the US officials' interfering comments and excessive demands, and their attempts to sow discord among the united Iranian nation have and will fail," he said. Additionally, he expressed that “the American threats only add to the wall of mistrust Iranians have regarding the United States.”
Simiak’s arrest is the first such incidence of Iran detaining American nationals since the release of Rezaian in January. In the same time frame as his release, the U.S. gave $400 million in cash to Iran.
The U.S. administration indicated that the monetary transaction was part of an unrelated negotiation dating back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when Iran purportedly purchased military equipment that the U.S. never delivered. This January’s reimbursement was the first payment of the $1.7 billion the U.S. intends to compensate.
This August, however, the State Department conceded that they delayed the reimbursement to Iran in order “to retain maximum leverage.” Although Obama and his administration insist that the U.S. did not and never will pay ransom, the Iranian Press and Republicans against the Iran Deal describe the transaction as such.
John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, insisted “this was a sound decision made in the end game of two separate negotiation tracks,” and “it’s their money. They were going to get it anyway.”
Nevertheless, the concurrence of the payment and Rezaian’s release has led analysts to speculate that Simiak’s arrest and conviction could be used as leverage for future installments of the reimbursement.