Iran grants US citizen four-day release from prison

Iranian authorities granted a four-day leave on humanitarian grounds Sunday to Baquer Namazi, the oldest of a group of American citizens known to be held in the Islamic Republic.

His lawyer, Jared Genser, said that Namazi, an 81-year-old former UNICEF official, cannot leave Iran and is prohibited from speaking to the media. Under the terms of his temporary release, Namazi is allowed to rest at his home in Tehran, the New York Times said. His son, business consultant Siamak Namazi, is still in jail.

Both are dual Iranian-American citizens. Iran, however, does not recognise dual citizenship and judiciary officials have said both men would be treated as Iranian citizens in the legal process.

Namazi was rushed to a hospital on 15 January - the fourth time in the last year - after a "severe" drop in his blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, "serious" energy depletion and white colouring, Genser said.

In September, he underwent emergency heart surgery to instal a pacemaker. 

"We welcome the release of Baquer Namazi given his deteriorating health, but we note that his release is only temporary," US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"We call for the immediate and full release of the Namazi family, including his son Siamak, as well as other Americans unjustly held by the Iranian government."

The Namazis were given 10 years in prison for "espionage and collaboration with the American government" in October.

The elder Namazi's son Babak said "a return to prison would be life-threatening for him".

10-year sentences

"I beg the Iranian authorities to show compassion and grant my father a permanent release so he can spend his remaining time with his family before we face an irreversible tragedy," he added.

Genser said returning to prison Thursday as ordered would amount to a "death sentence" for Namazi.

"On humanitarian grounds, his leave must be made permanent. And it is urgent that Siamak Namazi and the rest of the wrongfully imprisoned Americans also have their cases resolved," Genser said.

Xiyue Wang, a Chinese-American researcher from Princeton University, was also given a 10-year sentence for espionage.

Ex-FBI agent and CIA contractor Robert Levinson went missing in March 2007.

Washington and Tehran have had no diplomatic relations since April 1980 in the wake of the Islamic revolution, and tensions have sharpened under Trump after a brief warming under his predecessor, Barack Obama.

The two countries along with other major powers signed an accord on 14 July 2015 aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear programme. Washington has continued to honour the accord, despite Trump's threats as a candidate last year to "rip it up".