NEW YORK – Kamran Hekmati, an Iranian American jeweler based in New York, has recently been released from the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, though he remains barred from leaving Iran, according to reports from his family and federal officials.
Hekmati, who completed approximately half of a two-year sentence, was released on September 5. His family shared this news on a website dedicated to advocating for his release, highlighting their ongoing concern for his health, especially as he requires regular medical checkups to monitor his bladder cancer.
“The Iranian regime couldn’t care less,” the family expressed, emphasizing that Hekmati’s situation mirrors many wrongful detention cases in Iran, where American citizens are often held for political leverage against the United States.
As of now, the exact location where Hekmati is staying in Iran remains undisclosed. However, his cousin, Shohreh Nowfar, expressed optimism, stating that the family is hopeful for the return of his passport, which would allow him to leave a country that has been embroiled in conflict with the U.S. and Israel for over six months.
Kieran Ramsey, chief investigative officer at Global Reach—a nonprofit organization working on Hekmati’s case—echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Hekmati’s release might signal Iran’s willingness to facilitate his return home.
Hekmati, who turned 62 in August, operates a jewelry business in Manhattan’s Diamond District and has resided with his family in Great Neck Estates, Long Island, for many years. His troubles began last July when Iranian authorities arrested him after seizing his passport while he attempted to leave Tehran in May.
His family claims he was charged under a law prohibiting Iranian citizens from visiting Israel within the last decade. However, they assert that Hekmati’s last visit to Israel occurred 13 years ago for his son’s bar mitzvah, well before the law’s enactment.
U.S. Representative Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat from Long Island, has been an advocate for Hekmati, urging the State Department to officially recognize him as wrongfully detained. “Mr. Hekmati did nothing wrong,” Suozzi stated firmly, reinforcing the call for his reunification with his family.
The State Department has also urged Iran to lift the exit ban on Hekmati and to “immediately release” other Americans, including Iranian American journalist Reza Valizadeh, who is also unjustly detained in Iran.
Hekmati and Valizadeh are among the two Americans officially designated as wrongfully detained in Iran, while up to eight others remain prohibited from leaving the country, according to Ramsey.
Valizadeh’s lawyer, Ryan Fayhee, has refrained from commenting on the situation, citing the potential risks to his client. Valizadeh, who has been imprisoned since 2024, has sent messages detailing the dire conditions within Evin prison, where many political prisoners are held.
In a voice message shared by CBS, Valizadeh described his struggles, noting that medical care is severely lacking and that diseases long eradicated have resurfaced within the prison. He emphasized the lack of family visitation for the past five months, highlighting the inhumane conditions faced by inmates.
Prior to his eventual release, Hekmati had been granted a medical furlough for cancer treatment but was ordered back to prison after a month, rather than being allowed to begin chemotherapy.
Valizadeh, a former employee of Radio Farda, acquired U.S. citizenship in 2022, yet was arrested upon returning to Iran to visit his elderly parents, facing charges of collaborating with the U.S. government.
As the situation evolves, both families and advocacy groups continue to seek justice and freedom for Hekmati and Valizadeh, emphasizing the urgent need for their safe return.
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Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo
