EDITORIAL: An American’s Release: Iran Should Send U.S. Captives Home

By The Philadelphia Inquirer

Aug. 23–Cautious optimism must be the response to this week’s release on bail of Iranian American scholar Haleh Esfandiari, who had been jailed three months in Tehran on trumped-up charges.

The Islamic republic accused Esfandiari of promoting revolution against the regime. She was released on bail Tuesday, two weeks after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to a letter from Lee H. Hamilton, director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.

Esfandiari, director of the center’s Middle East program, went to Iran last year to visit her ill mother. Her release on bail did not automaticaly free her to return to the United States. She is now staying in her mother’s apartment in Tehran, which was put up as collateral to pay the $324,000 bail.

Three other Iranian Americans have been similarly detained. There were reports yesterday that New York social scientist Kian Tajbakhsh also might be allowed to post bail. Parnaz Azima, a reporter for Radio Farda, has posted bail but has not been allowed to leave Iran. Ali Shakeri, a peace activist from California, remains in prison.

Hamilton made his request for Esfandiari’s release on religious and humanitarian grounds, rather than the need for Iran and the United States to improve relations.

But talks between Iran and this country are key to settling the Iraq war and stabilizing the Middle East. Allowing Esfandiari and the other Iranian American captives to come home would be a good step toward that goal.

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