The possible return of Americans held in Iran came up during the final rounds of negotiations over that country’s nuclear program, a senior Obama administration official said Tuesday. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, about the possible return of the Americans, including Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, who is now on trial in Iran, as well as former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who was taken hostage while working in the country in 2007. While the administration official gave no indication of whether the Americans would be released, she said that in light of an historic diplomatic agreement, now was the time to for Iran to make a “humanitarian gesture.” The official continued: “We believe very strongly that this is an opportunity for Iran to let the Americans come. We believe that Iran ought to help to help find Robert Levinson and bring him home.”
— Shane Harris
