“Iran Must Change its Behavior if it Wants Global Investment”

The media spotlight may have been focused firmly on Russian president Vladimir Putin’s performance during the recent United Nations General Assembly, but for the families and supporters of jailed Iranian-Americans Amir Hekmati, Jason Rezaian and Saeed Abedini, what Iranian president Hassan Rouhani had to say on the world stage was what really mattered. Unfortunately for them, Rouhani’s visit was carefully orchestrated: Media engagements were arranged well in advance and tightly scripted, and there were no reports that he held conversations with any politicians or activists that might have challenged his stance on human rights or asked difficult questions about the death penalty, jailed journalists or the rights of minority communities in Iran. Throughout his visit, the issue of human rights was neatly avoided.

But United States Congressman Dan Kildee, who has been a strong advocate for the release of US-Iranian former marine Amir Hekmati, had a unique opportunity to speak with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during his one-day stay in New York. IranWire talked to him about his conversation with the foreign minister, his take on the Rouhani visit, and how hopeful he was about the imminent release of Amir Hekmati. 

You had an opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Zarif at the end of last week. Did he give you the impression that there might be some movement on Amir Hekmati’s case?

It took place just before the Pope’s speech to the General Assembly. I was there at the invitation of our United Nations ambassadors. I had some time prior to the speech and I wandered over to the Iran seats because I had been looking to see if Mr Zarif was there. We had, I would say, about a five-minute conversation. I started by introducing myself and he, after hearing my name, recalled my past work and my advocacy on behalf of Amir Hekmati. I reiterated my strong desire that Iran continued to work to secure the release of these American prisoners and that they understood how important that was to us. 

I don’t want to put words in his mouth but it is clear to me that he was also of the view that it was important to resolve the question, and that it would be beneficial to both the US and Iran to somehow resolve this issue. I had some assurance that he was committed to continuing to work with the United States on this. I did also ask him if he had a specific message for the family of Amir Hekmati. He reiterated that they are committed to trying to find a solution, and that they were hopeful that we would be able to find a way to resolve this issue. We did have some discussion about steps to come but I wouldn’t want to characterize those too specifically because some of it might be of a classified nature.

I wouldn’t say that I was overly encouraged — but I was certainly happy to hear that he was open to discussion. He was actually quite welcoming to the conversation.

I understand you’d tried to meet or speak to Zarif prior to the chance meeting but this was proving difficult. What had been the reaction when you’d tried to set up a meeting?

We had asked for an opportunity to meet with him and had not been able to work it out. Usually around the General Assembly we’ve asked to speak with the most senior Iranian official we could contact. And of course Mr Zarif is quite senior and quite central to these discussions. I understand that logistics and other constraints can sometimes make it difficult, especially when there’s been such little contact between the US and Iran until recently. It’s one of the things that the United Nations is for and provides a vehicle for: dialogue between nations that have big differences — and we still have big differences with Iran. There in that room is a representative of virtually every nation on the planet. So it provided a unique opportunity to have a conversation that until very recently would have been impossible.

This year there was less media attention on President Rouhani and the Iranian delegation. What impact do you think this has on Amir Hekmati’s case or the cases of other American citizens held in Iran?

I do think it’s helpful to have particularly the plight of these Americans in the public eye. But I will say there are advantages and disadvantages to it being frontpage news every day — the advantages being that it continues to press the issue and underscore its urgency. But perhaps not being frontpage news every single day [means] it gives Iran and the United States space to have conversations that are more difficult to have when it’s such a contentious issue.

There was a lot of media speculation in Iran around the fact that President Obama and Foreign Minister Zarif shook hands during the UN meetings. What is your take on this?

I think even with those nations and individuals with whom we have great differences, an element of civility is always helpful. If we’re able to shake hands even despite dramatic disagreement that continues to provide the space for conversation.

Rouhani's speech was geared towards inviting economic investment in Iran. What impact do you think this could potentially have on Amir Hekmati’s case?

One of the points I’ve been making at every opportunity is to explain that the extent to which sanctions relief will mean direct investment and increased global economic presence in Iran is largely going to be affected by how Iran behaves. If Iran continues to hold innocent individuals as prisoners, that will have a chilling effect on global industry that want to have a presence in Iran — because it would mean that maybe one of their individuals from those companies could be subject to the same treatment. Iran is going to have accept the reality that if they expect significant benefits from sanctions relief in the form of outside investment, they’ve got to change their behavior.

Related articles:

“We Need Amir Home Now”

US Authorities Must Act on Hekmati

Iran Weekly Wire Podcast: Roland Elliott Brown speaks to Sarah Hekmati

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