Iran allows ailing American Baquer Namazi to leave the country for treatment – NPR
An 85-year-old American and former U.N. official was allowed to leave Iran today after being held there for more than six years.
Baquer Namazi is flying to Muscat, Oman, said a lawyer representing the Namazi family. "After a short layover, he will be leaving Oman and heading to Abu Dhabi," said lawyer Jared Genser. While in the United Arab Emirates, Namazi will undergo surgery to clear possible arterial blockages that could lead to a stroke.
The case of Namazi and his son, both dual U.S.-Iranian citizens, has received international attention and been the subject of indirect talks between the United States and Iran for years.
In 2015, son Siamak Namazi was arrested while on a business trip to Iran. The elder Namazi was arrested on a visit to try to free his son - both sentenced to prison for what the U.S. says were fake spying charges.
Through their family lawyer, Namazi's other son, Babak Namazi, said, "It is impossible to articulate and describe sufficiently how I am feeling. I am just so grateful that after so long, I will shortly be able to embrace my father again. In recent years, I thought this day would never happen."
But he noted that the "nightmare" continues for his brother and for two other Americans held in Iran.
Siamak Namazi, 51, was in Iran's notorious Evin Prison until the weekend, when Iran allowed him to go to a family home in Tehran for a week-long furlough where he could re-unite there with his father. The furlough could be extended but he is not allowed to leave Iran.
The United Nations and Oman helped broker the releases. Iranian officials have repeatedly said they would like to swap westerners they're holding for Iranians being held in the U.S. and elsewhere.
In 2016, as the Iran nuclear deal was implemented, the Obama administration released seven Iranians from jail and dropped charges on others as Iran released Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and four other Americans. In 2019, the Trump administration released an Iranian scientist accused of violating sanctions, in return for a Princeton University graduate student studying in Iran.
Iranian media said the travel permission for Baquer Namazi comes as part of a deal to release some Iranian assets frozen in foreign banks. But the U.S. state department denied that Tuesday, calling it, "absolutely false."
Continue reading here:
Iran allows ailing American Baquer Namazi to leave the country for treatment - NPR
- Israeli officials think Trump could give them green light to attack Iran again - Axios - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- We didnt wipe them out: Why Iran is still dangerous even after key strikes - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran's president says Tehran open to dialogue with US, accuses Israel of assassination attempt - Reuters - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Israel said to expect US backing for future strikes on Iran if it revives nuclear program - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump all for Iran peace talks, but ready, willing and able to strike again - The Hill - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Witkoff promises new nuclear talks with Iran within a week; Trump says not sure they have a purpose - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran demands accountability for Israel and US after war of aggression - Al Jazeera - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran gets significant diplomatic boost from BRICS bloc with Russia and China - Newsweek - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- After setback to Iran's nuclear program, Trump expected to leverage military support in Netanyahu meeting - Fox News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- A timeline of the Iran-Israel war - Tehran Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Turkey is the new Iran - www.israelhayom.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- US, Iran de-escalate rhetoric, nudge to talks but Tehran wary of Israels influence - The Arab Weekly - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Sen. Steve Daines says regime change is the best long-term plan in Iran - Fox News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Why Iran emerged victorious in its war with Israel - Tehran Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Why has Iran stepped up its deportation of Afghan refugees? - Al Jazeera - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran alone in crises: Where were Russia, China in their time of need? - Euronews.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- The 12-day conflict is over: What is next for Iran? | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran President Accuses Israel of Assassination Attempt in Interview with Tucker Carlson - Algemeiner.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- I will never regret coming: Amid Israels devastating strikes on Iran, a woman traveling solo had to find her way out - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A text, a Telegram link, then an offer of money: how Iran sought to recruit spies in Israel - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Tucker Carlson says to air interview with president of Iran - Reuters - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- CNN in Iran: Behind the scenes with our team - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war tests the harmony of Los Angeles' huge Iranian community - AP News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Nuclear Inspectors Leave Iran After Cooperation Halted With U.N. Watchdog - The New York Times - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Israel concealed information about Iran's destruction of five military sites, satellite images show - Tehran Times - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Only diplomacy will stop the atomic bomb: Reflections following the war against Iran - EL PAS English - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Readers sound off on what Iran achieved, Diddys jurors and Sen. Lisa Murkowski - New York Daily News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- American Solo Traveler Was in Iran When It Was Bombed. She Documents How She Fled the Country (Exclusive) - People.com - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Iran hit five Israeli military bases in 12-day war The Telegraph - - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Hamas can keep fighting without Iran, and what that means for Israel - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Iran's uranium supply chain must be thwarted as nuclear program grows - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Im banned from Iran, Israel and the US despite breaking no rules - The Telegraph - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Trump stopped calling on Iran to surrender - The Spectator World - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A week into the fragile Israel-Iran peace agreement, heres what we still dont know - AP News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Dont look away from whats happening in Iran - The Boston Globe - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Its offensive: voices from Iran as fans face 2026 World Cup travel ban - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Tucker Carlson interviews the president of IRAN - Daily Mail - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Divine justice: IAF is Gods army, striking Iran as prophesized in the Bible - The Times of Israel - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- New Cold War?: US faces long-term battle to contain Iran after Trump's strike on their nuclear facilities - Fox News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The Israel-Iran war has not yet transformed the Middle East - The Economist - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Opinion | Iran Is Terrorizing Its Own Citizens. The World Needs to Respond. - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump meets with Saudi defense minister at the White House and discusses situation in Iran - Axios - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- US issues first wave of Iran sanctions after ceasefire in 12-day war - Al Jazeera - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- France demands immediate release of French couple held in Iran for three years - Reuters - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- US-Iran nuclear talks to resume in Oslo next week for first time since war report - The Times of Israel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Will Trumps Strikes on Iran Really Stop Its Nuclear Program? - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Between Gaza and Iran, Israel's Hidden War in the West Bank Is Flaring Up - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- After ceasefire, Iran is preparing for the long war with Israel - Middle East Eye - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Iran becomes the latest Russian ally to discover the limits of Kremlin support - Atlantic Council - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump says Iran wants to meet 'very badly' after US strikes - - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Iran can still build nuclear weapons without further enrichment. Only diplomacy will stop it - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Pentagon says US strikes set back Iran nuclear program one to two years - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Assessing the U.S. Article 51 Letter for the Attack on Iran: Legal Lipstick on the Use of Force Pig - Just Security - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Suspected Iran spies accused of plotting assassination of senior figure in Israel - The Times of Israel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Will Iran conflicts aftermath drive Israel, Saudi Arabia towards normalization? - Breaking Defense - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Israel's economy can't survive a long war with Iran - and Trump knows it - Middle East Eye - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- US slams Iran for unacceptable suspension of ties with UN nuclear watchdog - The Times of Israel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- U.S. Launches Eighth Round of Sanctions Targeting Iran's Oil and Tankers - The Maritime Executive - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Opinion | John Bolton: Trumps Work in Iran Has Only Begun - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Iran assesses the damage and lashes out after Israeli and US strikes damage its nuclear sites - AP News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran Suspected of Scouting Jewish Targets in Europe - WSJ - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Opinion | War With Iran Exposes the Emptiness of the Axis of Autocracy - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran Pivots Toward China, But Is Beijing Ready To Play Ball? - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The global implications of the US strikes on Iran - Brookings - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran readied to mine Strait of Hormuz after Israel began strikes US sources - The Times of Israel - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Hackers tied to Iran preparing calculated smear campaign on Trump, cyber agency says - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Refinery hit by Iran missiles emitting 100 times higher than usual levels of benzene - The Times of Israel - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- US calls reported threats by pro-Iran hackers to release Trump-tied material a 'smear campaign' - AP News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Trump and Noem want CNN prosecuted for Iran, immigration reporting - Axios - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Israel-Iran live updates: Trump says he is not 'talking to' Iran - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Donald Trumps Attack on Iran May Have Made the Nuclear Crisis Worse - Rolling Stone - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Israel and Iran Have Set the Stage for the Next War - Jacobin - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran says needs time before talks with US, claims it can start enriching again quickly - The Times of Israel - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The attacks on Iran didnt achieve anything more than harm nonproliferation - Al Jazeera - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran: More than 900 killed in war with Israel - The Hill - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- First it was regime change, now they want to break Iran apart - Responsible Statecraft - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran Threatens To Release 100GB of Trump Aides' Emails: What To Know - Newsweek - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Israel was facing destruction at the hands of Iran. This is how close it came, and how it saved itself - The Times of Israel - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Sleeper cells and threat warnings: how the US-Iran conflict is spinning up fear - The Guardian - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran raises death toll from war with Israel to more than 900 - AP News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]