Washington D.C. – CBS News, Mar. 20, 2026
Former Iran detainee Siamak Namazi says he’s worried about the handful of Americans known to be held inside Iranian prisons as the U.S. war in Iran continues.
“They are the easiest-to-grab punching bag right now in the hands of that rogue regime,” he said during a panel discussion with “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
“I think this is a dangerous time,” said Namazi. He added, “For a hostage or wrongfully detained citizen abroad, their biggest fear is to be forgotten, and this is a very dangerous time for them, with all that’s going on in Washington’s mind.”
Namazi was detained in Iran’s notorious Evin prison in 2015 after almost eight years of captivity, the longest-held American prisoner to be released from Iran. The State Department determined that he had been wrongfully detained.
Emad Shargi, who was held in Iran for five years, recalled being in the Evin prison in October 2022, as massive anti-government protests seized the country. Mahsa Amini, 22, had been arrested for allegedly wearing a hijab incorrectly and died in police custody. Authorities said she had a heart attack, but her family said police beat her to death.
Namazi said he was “confident” if President Trump and his administration knew “there are Americans sitting in Evin prison,” they would “put that on the agenda” amid the ongoing war.
“I think it’s important that he hears that there are innocent Americans being held like we were — as political pawns,” said Namazi.
Shargi agreed, saying that he couldn’t “imagine if President Trump knew their names and knew these cases, they wouldn’t be one of the priorities.”
So far, the war in Iran has put them in even graver danger.
