Who are the Americans held by Iran?
Here's a look at the four US citizens — Siamak Namazi, Baquer Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Shargi — whose fates could be decided in Vienna.
As negotiators in Vienna work to revive the landmark nuclear agreement, the US and Iran are also holding indirect discussions over the possible release of several Americans held by the Islamic Republic.
The Biden administration has stressed that the nuclear deal and prisoner issue are separate, but in January, US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley told Reuters it is “hard for us to imagine” re-entering into a nuclear agreement if the four Americans were still held by Iran.
Rights groups accuse Iran of jailing Americans and other foreigners as a way of gaining leverage for sanctions relief, the unfreezing of assets and other concessions from their home countries. According to the New York-based Center for Human Rights, Iran is currently detaining at least 16 dual nationals and one foreign national.
Of that group, Iran is known to be holding four Iranian-Americans on vague spying charges that human rights groups describe as baseless. Here’s a closer look at each of them.
