US detainees in Iran risk becoming collateral damage in war, families and supporters fear

<br><br>**US Detainees in Iran Risk Becoming Collateral Damage in War, Families and Supporters Fear**<br><br>New York — The escalating war between Israel and Iran has raised concerns for the families and supporters of Americans detained in the country, who fear that their loved ones may become unintended casualties of the conflict.<br><br>For Americans imprisoned in Iran, this is as terrifying a moment as it gets, said Siamak Namazi, an Iranian American who was detained for nearly eight years before being released as part of a deal with the US in 2023. What these families are facing now is days of war with no clear end in sight.<br><br>According to the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, a hostage advocacy organization, there are at least six Americans being held in Iran, and they face unprecedented danger due to the military conflict. The known cases include a reporter formerly based in Washington and a Jewish Iranian American from New York who traveled to Iran last year for family reasons and has not been permitted to return to the US.<br><br>At least two of the known detainees are housed in Evin Prison, the notorious Tehran penitentiary where Namazi was held. The high-security facility holds many of the Islamic Republic's political prisoners and has been the target of past Israeli bombardment.<br><br>Kamran Hekmati, a 61-year-old from Long Island detained at Evin, spoke with his wife on Monday to assure her that he was safe for now, according to his cousin, Shohreh Nowfar. However, the family worries that his condition could quickly deteriorate because he has not been receiving regular treatments for his bladder cancer in the months since he was detained.<br><br>It's an uncertain time in an uncertain country, said Nowfar, a Los Angeles resident.<br><br>The US government has called for the release of the detainees, with White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stating, President Trump has been clear that he wants every American wrongfully detained to be returned home safe and sound, and that there will be dire consequences for regimes who treat Americans as political pawns.<br><br>The US government has also officially designated Reza Valizadeh, a 50-year-old Iranian American reporter, as wrongfully detained. Valizadeh is among at least 15 reporters currently jailed in Iran, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.<br><br>The US State Department has declined to comment on the status of the detainees out of concern for their safety and security.<br><br>Lawyers for the detainees, including Reza Valizadeh, are urging the administration and Israeli government to take great care to avoid any collateral damage during the military action. It's my job to let the administration and the Israeli government know that there are innocent American citizens within that prison, said Ryan Fayhee, a lawyer for Valizadeh. They should take great care with this military action to avoid any unfortunate collateral damage.<br><br>As the situation continues to unfold, the families and supporters of the detainees are left with uncertainty and concern for the well-being of their loved ones.<br><br>**Note** The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation is a hostage advocacy organization that works to secure the safe release of Americans held hostage abroad.