The U.S. government must prioritize the release and recovery of American hostages held hostage in Iran.
We, the undersigned, urge the administration to prioritize the immediate release of Americans held unjustly by Iran. As of October 2026—eight months after the outbreak of war—media reports indicate that at least four U.S. nationals remain behind bars or subject to exit bans, although the true number may be higher. We urge President Trump to use every opportunity during the negotiations with Iran to restore the freedom, safety, and dignity of these Americans.
By virtue of their nationality, Americans in Iran are at acute risk of unjust imprisonment and persecution. Tehran seizes U.S. citizens, residents, and dual nationals to obtain leverage against the United States in what has been named “hostage diplomacy”—a practice dating back to the 1979 hostage crisis. These individuals have done nothing wrong; they simply have a blue passport. Detainees in the Iranian judicial and penal systems face brutal conditions: lack of due process, family harassment, medical neglect, torture, and even death. Amid the ongoing conflict, deteriorating prison conditions and airstrikes hitting and affecting the prison have only compounded the myriad challenges.
President Trump’s impressive record of negotiating the safe return of hostages demonstrates that this is a key priority for his administration. In February of this year, the Trump administration designated Iran as the first State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention—unequivocally denouncing the regime’s ongoing practice of hostage diplomacy. By negotiating from a place of strength, the Executive Branch has successfully freed scores of American captives from places such as Gaza, Venezuela, Russia, Belarus, Afghanistan, and beyond. We ask the administration to build on that record by prioritizing the freedom of Americans held captive in Iran.
Ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran create a window of opportunity to free the hostages. Their release would reciprocate the gesture of good faith the United States made when it released dozens of captive Iranian soldiers and could lay a durable foundation for future diplomatic engagement.
We call on our government to leave no American behind. We ask that President Trump include and prioritize the immediate release of American hostages in the ongoing negotiations with Iran. The United States must seize this moment to bring every American held hostage in Iran home.
Signatories:
McCain Institute John McCain Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative
James W. Foley Legacy Foundation
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