Suozzi Leads Bipartisan Letter to Secretary of State Rubio to Secure Release of Long Island Man Unjustly Imprisoned in Iran

Glen Cove, NY – Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D–NY) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY) wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking the State Department to take immediate action to secure the release of Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old American citizen, dual national, and longtime resident of Great Neck, NY, who has been unjustly imprisoned in Iran.

Suozzi and Tenney wrote in the letter, “This case has deeply alarmed residents across New York, particularly within the large Persian Jewish community on Long Island. Mr. Hekmati is a respected and active member of his community, serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals in his local government, and is currently battling aggressive bladder cancer. The Iranian regime should release him immediately on humanitarian grounds.”

In the letter, Suozzi and Tenney formally requested:

1. That the White House urgently work to secure Mr. Hekmati’s safe and immediate release using all available tools;

2. A classified update from State and White House officials on efforts to free Mr. Hekmati; and

3. That the State Department classify Mr. Hekmati as a wrongful detainee under the Levinson Act.

Congressman Suozzi has pledged to continue pressing until Mr. Hekmati is safely home with his family. 

You can find the full letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

Thank you for securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and for your work to stabilize conflicts across the Middle East. We are grateful for your leadership in the region.

We write today regarding Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old resident of Great Neck, New York, who is unjustly detained in Iran. Mr. Hekmati, a dual American-Iranian citizen, was sentenced to prison during a visit to Iran earlier this year to see family, a trip he has made on multiple occasions without issue. His alleged crime was attending his son’s bar mitzvah in Israel 13 years ago.

This case has deeply alarmed residents across New York, particularly within the large Persian Jewish community on Long Island. Mr. Hekmati is a respected and active member of his community, serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals in his local government, and is currently battling aggressive bladder cancer. The Iranian regime should release him immediately on humanitarian grounds.

Accordingly, we respectfully request:

1. The White House urgently work toward the release of Mr. Hekmati on humanitarian grounds, using all available tools to secure his safe and immediate return;

2. An update from the State Department and White House officials on efforts to secure Mr. Hekmati’s release; and

3. The State Department classify Mr. Hekmati as a wrongful detainee under the Levinson Act.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and for your ongoing work to bring wrongfully detained Americans home. We look forward to working with you to bring Mr. Hekmati home.

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