Family of Long Island jeweler jailed in Iran begs Trump for help
A New York family is urging President Trump to make the release of their relative, imprisoned in Iran since May 2025, a condition for any peace deal with Tehran amid escalating tensions.
Kamran Hekmati, a 61-year-old Jewish Iranian-American from Great Neck, has been detained at Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison since May 2025. His family delivered a heartfelt letter to President Trump this week pleading for intervention, according to New York Post.
Shohreh Nowfar, Hekmati’s cousin and family spokesperson, emphasized the urgency of the situation in the letter obtained by the outlet. She noted that Hekmati is battling bladder cancer without adequate medical treatment while imprisoned.
The letter was distributed Tuesday night to President Trump, the State Department, the National Security Council, and other senior administration officials.
Detained Over Historic Israel Visit
Hekmati’s detention stems from a visit to Israel 13 years ago to attend his son’s bar mitzvah. Iranian authorities prevented him from leaving the country during a family visit in May 2025, citing the Israel trip as illegal under Iranian law.
The State Department designated Hekmati as wrongfully detained in March, officially classifying him as a political hostage rather than a legitimate criminal defendant.
Trump Vows Action on Hostages
The family’s appeal follows President Trump’s weekend commitment to secure the release of all American hostages held abroad. During an NBC interview, Trump indicated willingness to pursue their freedom, though he noted uncertainty about the complete list of detained Americans.
An administration official confirmed Wednesday that Trump has made returning wrongfully detained Americans a priority and that the government is working diligently on the Iran cases.
Military Tensions Complicate Release Efforts
The push for Hekmati’s freedom comes as military hostilities between the United States and Iran have intensified. An Iranian drone downed a US Army Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening, prompting renewed American bombing campaigns against Iranian targets.
Kieran Ramsey of the Global Reach advocacy group, which represents the Hekmati family, stressed that hostage releases must take precedence over military escalation.
Multiple Americans Detained in Evin Prison
Hekmati is not the only American suffering in Iranian custody. Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist imprisoned at Evin since September 2024 for his work with Radio Free Europe’s Persian service Radio Farda, received wrongful detention designation in May 2025.
A voice recording Valizadeh made inside the prison and obtained by CBS News last week revealed disturbing conditions. He described experiencing physical and psychological torture alongside other detained Americans, all suffering from medical conditions without proper care.
Valizadeh also noted that an opportunity to exchange American hostages for 20 Iranian sailors released by the US in May was missed by the previous administration.
Advocates Demand Hostages in Any Deal
Ramsey and other advocates insist that any peace agreement or nuclear deal with Iran must include the immediate release of all detained Americans. The journalist emphasized their freedom should be the top priority in negotiations.
A State Department spokesperson told New York Post that Iran has a lengthy record of unjustly detaining American and foreign citizens, and called for their immediate release while declining further comment on specific cases.
The Hekmati family letter praised Trump’s record of bringing over 100 Americans home since January 2025 and urged immediate action to secure Kamran’s release so he can receive cancer treatment and reunite with his family in Great Neck.
With information from New York Post
