Iranian Authorities Release Jewish-American from Tehran Prison, Bar Exit

A 71-year-old Jewish-American jeweler and businessman from New York, Kamran Hakimati, has been released from Tehran's notorious Evin Prison in recent days. Hakimati, who holds dual Iranian-American citizenship, was arrested in the summer of 2025 during a family visit to his native Iran. He was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison by the Revolutionary Court for traveling to Israel over a decade prior to attend a bar mitzvah celebration for relatives.

Despite his release from detention, Iranian authorities have imposed a travel ban, preventing Hakimati from leaving the country and returning to his family in the United States. His family has expressed grave concern over his health, stating that he suffers from aggressive bladder cancer and was denied adequate medical treatment during his incarceration, leading to a deterioration of his condition. The travel ban now prevents him from accessing necessary medical care in the U.S.

Western intelligence and diplomatic circles view Hakimati's case as part of a broader pattern where Iran detains foreign nationals and dual citizens on various pretexts, using them as bargaining chips in political negotiations. This tactic was also seen in the case of Dana Kararri, who was released on bail in July after 19 months of detention and allowed to leave for the U.S.

Another American citizen, journalist Reza Valizadeh, remains imprisoned in Evin, serving a ten-year sentence for alleged cooperation with Washington. Valizadeh recently released a recorded message from prison appealing to the U.S. government for urgent medical assistance for himself and other detained Americans. For Hakimati's family, his release from prison is only a partial victory, with the full resolution contingent on his ability to return home.