Family of Long Island jeweler imprisoned in Iran appeals to Trump for release
Kamran Hekmati, a 61-year-old Iranian-American jeweler from Great Neck, has been detained in Iran's Evin Prison for over a year and his family is urging President Trump to make his release a condition of any peace negotiations. Hekmati was prevented from leaving Iran in May 2023 after visiting Israel for his son's bar mitzvah 13 years earlier, and is currently battling bladder cancer without adequate medical care. The case highlights broader concerns about American citizens wrongfully detained in Iran, including journalist Reza Valizadeh, amid ongoing military tensions between the US and Iran.
Kamran Hekmati, a Jewish Iranian-American jeweler living in New York, has been held at Tehran's Evin Prison for over a year after Iranian officials prevented him from leaving the country in May 2023. His family sent a letter to President Trump on Tuesday night requesting he make Hekmati's release a priority in any negotiations with Iran, emphasizing that the 61-year-old is battling bladder cancer and lacks access to necessary medical treatment. The State Department designated Hekmati as wrongfully detained in March 2024. His case is part of a broader detention issue involving multiple American citizens in Iran, including journalist Reza Valizadeh, who has reported physical and mental torture in prison. Recent tensions have escalated following the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter by an Iranian drone, raising concerns about the safety of detained Americans. Trump administration officials stated they are tracking detained US citizens and working to secure their release, though advocates argue any diplomatic deal must include the freedom of these prisoners.
What's missing
The article does not clarify the exact date of Hekmati's detention (stated as 'May 2025' which appears to be a dating error in the source), nor does it provide details on previous diplomatic efforts to secure his release or the specific charges Iran has formally leveled against him beyond the Israel visit allegation.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
Family of Long Island jeweler imprisoned in Iran urgently pleads with Trump for his release: ‘Every day matters’
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