FIRE WITH FIRE

Iran finally released an Iranian-American academic scholar from prison, but they won't let her come home. Haleh Esfandiari, 67, who has dual US-Iran citizenship, had been imprisoned in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since May. Read the full story here.

Head of the Middle East program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC, Esfandiari was in Tehran to visit family when she was accosted by armed masked men, stripped of her passports and thrown in jail. She was accused of revolutionary activity by the Iranian Intelligence Ministry, a charge the scholar, her family, her employer and the US State Department have vehemently denied.

Esfandiari may be out of jail, but her passports remain confiscated. She will not be allowed to leave Iran until she faces charges of endangering national security. Her 93-year-0ld mother used the deed to her Tehran apartment to post the $330,000 bail necessary to gain Esfandiari's release.

Esfandiari is one of four Iranian-Americans jailed last spring on national security charges. The other three remain in jail and have been allowed no contact with their families.

Labels: arrests, Haleh Esfandiari, Iran, US-Iran citizens

Posted by The Watcher at Wednesday, August 22, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Iran is about to make a critical decision. This week Iran will complete its investigation of Americans imprisoned or detained in Tehran and decide whether to try them for "crimes against national security" or free them. You can read the full article here.

It seems that Iran is about to play its biggest bargaining chip in what has become an escalating war of words and tension with Washington. Iran is obliquely bargaining imprisoned Americans against the release of Iranian operatives captured in Iraq. A hardline decision by Iran could engender the full wrath of America and initiate a military clash between the two powers.

In the next few days Iran's prosecutor for security affairs is expected to render his verdict in the cases of four Americans, three of whom have been held in solitary confinement in Evin Prison since early May. The fourth American is out on bond and a fifth unidentified American is also being held. All are dual US-Iran citizens who were in the country visiting family or on business. The US has vociferously denounced Iran for targeting American-Iran dual citizens. Shortly after the arrests, the US State Department issued a travel advisory warning Americans not to travel in Iran.

Iran has been equally strong in its indictment of the US for the detention of five Iranians captured last January in a military raid in Iraq. The Iranians are part of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force which is active in arming and training Iraqi militants. The US is due to review their case later this month.

The arrest of US-Iran citizens appears to be a power play by Iran, a useful bargaining chip in securing the release of its own citizens. Dialogue between the two countries has become increasingly incendiary.

"We will make the Americans regret their ugly and illegal act," said Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

Such inflammatory statements and Iran's continued meddling in the affairs of Iraq have increased America's ire. This week Senator Joe Lieberman denounced Iran's actions and threatened US military action (see our June 11 blog post). Iran should take care not to prick the sleeping American bull too much least he be roused to charge.

Labels: arrests, hostages, US-Iran citizens

Posted by The Watcher at Thursday, June 14, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post