Former Iran detainees urge Trump to help Americans held as "political pawns" in Iranian prisons
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Two freed American detainees are urging Trump to secure the release of U.S. citizens held in Iranian prisons as political leverage.
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Siamak Namazi and Emad Shargi, two Americans freed from Iranian detention in a 2023 diplomatic exchange, are calling on President Trump to secure the release of U.S. citizens still held in Iranian prisons. The former detainees told CBS News they believe Americans are being used as "political pawns" by Tehran. Namazi and Shargi were among five Americans released in a high-stakes deal negotiated during the Biden administration, and their plea underscores the persistent tension over hostage diplomacy between Washington and Iran. The pair emphasized concern that imprisoned Americans face continued risk as U.S.-Iran relations remain strained. Their intervention adds pressure on the Trump administration to prioritize hostage recovery as part of its Iran policy.
What's Being Done
Siamak Namazi and Emad Shargi are publicly calling on the Trump administration to prioritize hostage recovery in its Iran policy.
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