Iran extends 'humanitarian furlough' of dual US-Iranian national Siamak Namazi

Iran has extended the temporary release of Iranian American Siamak Namazi from prison, his brother Babak Namazi said in a statement.

Furlough for the 51-year-old was extended on Saturday by three days, ahead of the seven-year anniversary of his detention by Iran on Thursday.

The "humanitarian furlough" was granted on 1 October to allow him to be with his ailing 85-year-old father Baquer Namazi, also detained by Iran but allowed to travel last week for medical care.

“Iranian authorities extended my brother Siamak’s furlough by another three days, which we hope will be extended again… we hope and pray that he will be granted his full freedom soon so that our family can finally be made whole again,” Babak Namazi said.

Both Namazis had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran on what the United States and United Nations say were trumped-up spying charges.

Baquer Namazi had a travel ban imposed on him until 1 October this year, which Tehran agreed to lift so that he could seek medical treatment abroad.

Since his travel ban was lifted, Baquer Namazi has undergone medical testing in Abu Dhabi, where doctors found that he has "about a 60 percent blockage in his left ICA, one of the main arteries to his brain", Babak Namazi said.

Baquer Namazi is set to undergo outpatient treatment for two to three months, before being reassessed to determine if the risk of undergoing surgery is necessary, his son Babak said.

Babak Namazi encouraged the US and Iranian governments "to build on the good will of my father’s release and Siamak’s furlough and do what is necessary to bring my brother and the other American captives home as soon as possible".

Iran is notorious for arresting its citizens that also hold nationality from a Western country, and accused of using dual national detainees as "political pawns".

This includes British-Iranians Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, who were released from detention earlier this year after their families tirelessly campaigned for their release.