Trump Warns Iran Ahead of Crucial Pakistan Talks: Live Updates
Advocates for two U.S. citizens held in Iran said Friday they hope their cases will be raised in upcoming U.S.-Iran negotiations set to begin Saturday. The families say the detainees face mounting health and well-being concerns. Both men are listed as wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department.
Who are the detainees?
The two Americans are Kamran Hekmati and Reza Valizadeh. Both are believed held in Tehran’s Evin Prison.
Valizadeh is an Iranian-American journalist. He worked in exile for Persian-language outlets, including the U.S.-funded Radio Farda. He returned to Iran in March 2024 to visit his elderly parents and was arrested in September 2024.
Hekmati was arrested last year. Family members said Iranian authorities sentenced him over a trip to Israel more than a decade ago. That trip was for his son’s bar mitzvah, the family told Filmogaz.com.
Negotiations and U.S. officials involved
Family advocates say negotiators will be aware of the detained Americans. They received assurances that the negotiating team has been informed.
The U.S. team is reportedly led by Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. One source said the detainees’ names were passed to the team previously. That source could not confirm the names will be raised on Saturday.
What advocates hope to achieve
Advocates want the negotiating team to press Tehran on the prisoners’ conditions. They hope talks will secure information and, ultimately, release or improved treatment.
Broader diplomatic context
The discussions come as regional tensions remain high. Earlier actions by Washington also factor into the talks.
Before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, the Trump administration designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention. In early March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Iran as “the worst offenders in the world of hostage-taking.”
As Trump warns Iran in other venues and as crucial Pakistan talks capture attention, advocates say detainee cases must stay visible. Filmogaz.com will monitor developments and provide live updates as they unfold.
