Iran has released from prison five detained Americans—but kept them under house arrest—according to the U.S. State Department.
Reportedly, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Sharghi, Siamak Namazi, and two other unidentified dual Iranian-American citizens, are under house detention.
Mr. Namazi, Mr. Sharghi, Mr. Tahbaz and one of the unidentified people were reportedly released from the notorious Evin Prison—which has been the subject of U.S. sanctions—on Aug. 10.
Iran reportedly transferred the fifth person to house arrest weeks ago.
The New York Times first reported this development.
The State Department has deemed Mr. Tahbaz, Mr. Sharghi, and Mr. Namazi as wrongfully detained.
“The move by Iran of the American hostages from Evin Prison to an expected house arrest is an important development,” Jared Genser, pro bono counsel to Mr. Namazi, said in a statement.
“While I hope this will be the first step to their ultimate release, this is at best the beginning of the end and nothing more. But there are simply no guarantees about what happens from here,” he added.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed to The Epoch Times that five Americans are currently under house arrest in Iran.
“We are relieved to learn that Iranian authorities have released five U.S. citizens … from prison to house arrest. We are in touch with the families of U.S. citizens involved, and we continue to monitor these individuals’ health and welfare closely,” he said.
“While we welcome the news of these individuals’ release from prison … they should never have been imprisoned in the first place,” continued Mr. Miller.
“We continue to work diligently to bring these individuals home to their loved ones. They must be allowed to depart Iran and reunite with their loved ones as soon as possible.”
In a statement, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said that while those released have been under house arrest, their freedom is not a done deal.
“We have received confirmation that Iran has released from prison five Americans who were unjustly detained and has placed them on house arrest,” she said.
“While this is an encouraging step, these U.S. citizens—Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi, and two Americans who at this time wish to remain private—should have never been detained in the first place.
“We will continue to monitor their condition as closely as possible. Of course, we will not rest until they are all back home in the United States.
“Until that time, negotiations for their eventual release remain ongoing and are delicate. We will, therefore, have little in the way of details to provide about the state of their house arrest or about our efforts to secure their freedom.”
Namazi has been in Iranian custody since 2015, while Sharghi and Tahbaz have been since 2018.
Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran, told The Epoch Times that “the U.S. hostages and their families have suffered tremendously for years” and that “their release into home arrest is only a first step, but one in the right direction” as “they should have never spent a day in prison.”
The release of the Americans comes as U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley has been on leave from the State Department as his security clearance has been under review.
In response to a question from The Epoch Times on Aug. 8, Mr. Miller said there has been no update in Mr. Malley’s case.
The Aug. 10 development also comes as the United States has moved some military assets into the Strait of Hormuz for deterrence reasons against Iran.
