Iranian-American Jew Kamran Hekmati released from Tehran's Evin Prison, must stay in Iran - report

Kamran Hekmati, an Iranian American Jew, was released from Tehran's Evin Prison on Saturday according to Iranian sources, though the report emerged on Monday. However, he is still barred from departing the country and returning to his residence in the United States due to a travel ban. The Iranian government has not yet made an official announcement regarding his release.

Hekmati was apprehended in July 2025 and incarcerated after being found guilty by a Tehran court for a visit to Israel 13 years prior. This visit was to attend his son's bar mitzvah celebration. His family and the entities aiding his case assert that the trial was a swift affair, lasting only around 10 minutes, and was carried out without a legal counsel or the presence of any witnesses.

The legal proceedings were reportedly executed without Hekmati having the opportunity to be represented by a lawyer or without any witnesses being heard. His travel to Israel, which occurred more than a decade before his arrest, was a pivotal aspect of the conviction that resulted in his imprisonment.

Despite Hekmati no longer being held at Evin Prison, his release does not presently permit him to exit Iran. The travel ban imposed on him remains active, and it is uncertain when or if this restriction will be lifted. Iranian authorities have not released an official statement confirming his release or detailing the circumstances surrounding his release.