UK – Iran International, July 28, 2025
An American citizen who came to Iran to visit relatives before the outbreak of the 12-day war is among five Jews still detained on suspicion of collaborating with Israel.
The man from New York is said to have left Iran 30 years ago and was among 35 Jews in the country detained on spy charges in the wake of the war with Israel.
He had traveled to Iran along with another Jew of Iranian origin who was also arrested but was since released on bail.
Israel’s Ynet quoted a legal representative involved in the case who remained anonymous, who said: “They came to the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Homayoun Sameyah Najafabadi, the only Jewish representative in Iran’s parliament, said Sunday that the charge of espionage has been formally dismissed against all Jewish detainees held in Tehran, and that the majority of those arrested are expected to be released soon.
“I am proud to announce that following a two-hour meeting with Mohammad Taghavi, the head of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, it was agreed that three of the five detained members of our community will be released on light bail,” Najafabadi wrote in a statement. “We hope the remaining two individuals in Tehran will also be freed soon.”
