State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday that the U.S. is "incredibly disappointed" that Iran has sent an 81-year-old Iranian-American back to prison after a week-long medical leave.
Iran's judiciary allowed Baquer Namazi, the prisoner held in Iran for nearly two years, to leave the country's notorious Evin prison following heart surgery to install a pacemaker. A medical examiner recommended that the leave be extended to three months, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
"We were incredibly disappointed to have learned the news that the Iranian government put him back in prison," Nauert said.
The State Department spokeswoman called on Iran to release all Americans detained there, saying the Islamic Republic should do so if it wants to be respected.
"We have some Americans who have been detained there for quite some time, and we would like for them to come home," Nauert said. "Iran should release those Americans if Iran wants to be considered a part of the world and if they want to be respected by the world. That would be a good way of doing it."
"We have been alarmed for some time at his declining health. We know he's in urgent need for sustained medical care," Nanuet added. "We're deeply disappointed in the fact he has been returned to prison. We’re concerned about his health."
"We call for his unconditional release from his unjust detention in Iran, and that renews our calling for all Americans who are being held in Iran and being held unjustly to be returned to the United States," Nanuet said.
Namazi’s family hoped that Iran would allow the three-month leave, but when they received a call on Tuesday from prison officials, they were told Namazi would be reported to prison immediately.
Genser called the action "tantamount to a death sentence that will be imposed quickly," as Namazi was dropped off at prison shortly after the call.
"I was looking forward to my father being home," said Babak Namazi, the prisoner’s son.
Asked about recent reports of his brother, Siamak Namazi, who is also held in an Iranian prison and being tortured with electric shocks, Nauert said it's "heartbreaking to hear that" and the State Department seeks to resolve it.
Namazi’s son Babak Namazi and Attorney were in Washington to meet with senior officials at the White House and State Department on Tuesday and plan to meet in New York with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley about the efforts to secure Namazi's permanent release.