White House calls Iranian authorities’ use of illegal detention as a political tool “outrageous”
Jan. 18 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, reported this Tuesday that the President of the United States, Joe Biden, has received the letter that Siamak Namazi, a US citizen detained in Iran for more than seven years, sent him has sent to ask for his help after announcing a hunger strike in protest against his imprisonment.
“We have received the letter and our thoughts are with Namazi and her family: we remain committed to guaranteeing her freedom,” the spokeswoman said at a press conference.
Jean-Pierre has assured that the United States government “continues to work to bring him home, along with other American citizens wrongfully detained in Iran.”
“Iran’s use of illegal detention as a political tool is outrageous. The United States will always defend its citizens abroad. We have been very clear on this and we are committed,” he declared.
The Biden Administration spokeswoman has remarked that “this will continue to be a priority for the American people”, as well as “for the president”.
“One of our highest priorities is to bring all of our wrongfully detained citizens home safely, as soon as possible, and to resolve the cases of missing and kidnapped US citizens,” he explained.
Namazi began a hunger strike on Monday, as he has been detained along with other US citizens, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz, since July 2015, undergoing numerous interrogations.
“All I can do is return my suffering to you. That is why I am going to stop eating for a week, hoping that this request will not be denied,” said Namazi, who has criticized the Obama Administration for freeing two citizens in January 2016, while he remains in Evin prison after “seven years and two presidents”.
