US State Department Spokesperson: Morad Tahbaz Is Another Victim of Iran’s Campaign of Wrongful Detention
Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the US State Department, called on Sunday, December 21, for the immediate release of Morad Tahbaz, an American-Iranian environmental activist imprisoned in Iran.
She wrote in a tweet: “Three years ago, the Iranian regime detained Morad Tahbaz, an American and British citizen and environmental activist who had survived cancer.”
Ms. Ortagus added: “He is suffering in prison and is another victim of the regime’s campaign of wrongful detention.”
She concluded by using two hashtags to call for the immediate release of Morad Tahbaz as well as Siamak and Baquer Namazi.
Western analysts have repeatedly stated that the Islamic Republic uses dual nationals as hostages to extract money and concessions from Western governments. Currently, a number of Iranian-American citizens, including Siamak and Baquer Namazi and Morad Tahbaz, and citizens of other countries, including Kamran Ghaderi and Anoosheh Ansari, have been imprisoned in Iran.
The United States State Department has repeatedly condemned the unjustified and arbitrary detention of American citizens and citizens of other countries, including dual nationals, by the Islamic Republic regime and has called for their immediate and unconditional release.
