Iranian-American businessman arrested and imprisoned in Tehran

Azadi Tower in Tehran.
(Image credit: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images)

An Iranian-American businessman based in Dubai was arrested earlier this month in Iran, making him the fourth American holding dual citizenship to be held in Tehran.

People briefed on the situation told The Wall Street Journal that two weeks ago, Siamak Namazi, the head of strategic planning at Crescent Petroleum Co., was arrested while visiting relatives in Tehran. The arrest was made by the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence service, which reports to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, not the Iranian government. Several businessmen interviewed from both inside and outside Iran told the Journal that in recent weeks, Iranian businessmen with ties to foreign companies have been detained, interrogated, and warned against getting involved in economic monopolies held by the Revolutionary Guard. Hardliners within the Iranian judiciary and intelligence services are also reportedly hoping to threaten the Iran nuclear deal by creating points of tension with the U.S.; they are against engaging with the West because they want to keep foreign influence out of the country.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.