Wife of graduate student imprisoned in Iran begs Trump administration for help


American graduate student Xiyue Wang is "very desperate" and attempted suicide in the Iranian prison where he's been held for nearly 16 months, his wife, Qu Hua, told NBC News in a broadcast Tuesday. Wang was arrested in August 2016 while researching Iran's Qajar dynasty for his Princeton University PhD. "He is extremely stressed, he has depression, and he attempted to commit suicide, and he had multiple diseases," Qu said.
Iran claims Wang, 36, was "spying under the cover of research," that he sought to enter confidential areas of the library, and that he was "directly guided by America." Qu says her husband "was criminalized because of his citizenship."
Qu, who has a 4-year-old child with Wang, begged President Trump to help her husband. "Only the U.S. government can sort this out, only the U.S. government can help us," she said. "I hope President Trump can open up a dialogue with Iranian authorities to discuss a resolution of my husband's case." Washington and Tehran have not spoken since President Barack Obama and President Hassan Rouhani talked over the phone in 2013.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Wang is one of seven Americans who are being held by Iran. "My son told his teacher that, 'When I grow up, my daddy will come home,'" Qu said. Learn more about Wang's situation below. Jeva Lange
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leak
Speed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroom
speed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deployment
Speed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth