Baquer Namazi, 81, who was detained in February 2016 and later convicted of espionage charges that he denied, was taken to the hospital earlier this month for the fourth time in the past year
An 81-year-old Iranian-American man imprisoned in Iran has received a four-day leave from the government until Thursday after being discharged from a hospital, his lawyer said on Sunday.
Earlier this month, Baquer Namazi, who was detained in February 2016 and later convicted of espionage charges that he denied, was taken to the hospital for the fourth time in the past year.
He had a severe drop in his blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat and depletion of energy, his lawyer Jared Genser said in a statement.
Namazi, who was a UNICEF representative, had emergency heart surgery in September to install a pacemaker, Genser said, adding that Namazi's doctors had said prison conditions were 'dangerous' for him and would worsen his health.
Both Baquer and his son Siamak (pictured) have US-Iran dual citizenship. Siamak was a businessman and his father was a UNICEF representative
In October 2015, the Revolutionary Guards detained Namazi's son Siamak as he was visiting family in Tehran. The father and son are pictured above
'I beg the Iranian authorities to show compassion and grant my father a permanent release so he can spend his remaining time with his family before we face an irreversible tragedy,' his son Babak Namazi said in a statement.
In October 2015, the Revolutionary Guards detained Namazi's son Siamak, a businessman in his mid-40s who also has dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, as he was visiting family in Tehran.
Both Babak and Siamak Namazi were sentenced in Fall 2016 to 10 years in prison for spying and cooperating with the U.S. government. They denied the charges.
'We welcome the release of Baquer Namazi given his deteriorating health but we note that his release is only temporary,' said Heather Nauert, U.S. State Department spokeswoman.
She added that the United States urged the full release of Namazi and his son 'as well as other Americans unjustly held by the Iranian government.'
Iran does not recognize dual citizenship and judiciary officials have said both men would be treated as Iranian citizens in the legal process.
Evin located in Tehran, Iran. It is known as Iran's most brutal and infamous prison and where Baquer and Siamak are being jailed