Kamran Hekmati, an American citizen imprisoned in Iran. (Hekmati family via AP)
Relatives urge Trump to prioritize release of a cancer-stricken American imprisoned in Iran.
By World Israel News Staff
The family of a New York Jewish man who has been incarcerated in a notorious Iranian prison for more than a year is urging President Donald Trump to make his release a condition of any future agreement with Tehran.
Kamran Hekmati, 71, a Great Neck resident who was born in Iran, traveled to the Islamic Republic in May 2025 to visit relatives still living there when he was detained by authorities.
Iranian officials reportedly justified Hekmati’s arrest by citing a 2012 trip to Israel to celebrate his son’s bar mitzvah.
Hekmati’s cousin, Shohreh Nowfar, who serves as the family’s spokesperson, recently sent a letter to Trump pleading for assistance in securing his release.
“Kamran is not only an American citizen; he is a devoted father, husband, brother, and cousin. Today, he is also a cancer patient. He is battling bladder cancer without access to the medical care he urgently needs. Every day matters,” the letter, obtained by the New York Post, stated.
“Mr. President, we know you have the ability to make this happen,” it continued. “Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to bringing Americans home.”
The letter also praised Trump’s “strong leadership in bringing more than 100 Americans home since January 2025.”
It concluded with an appeal for immediate action, urging Trump to “act now to secure Kamran’s release” and stressing that “he deserves the chance to come home, receive treatment, and be reunited with those who love him.”
In a statement to the Post, the Trump administration confirmed that the president “wants all Americans wrongfully and unjustly detained overseas to be brought home.”
The official added that the administration is “closely tracking U.S. citizens currently detained in Iran and working diligently to secure their release.”
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