Kamran Hekmati reportedly released from Iranian prison but remains under travel ban

Kamran Hekmati, a Jewish Iranian American businessman, has reportedly been released from Tehran’s Evin Prison. However, he remains unable to return to the United States due to an ongoing travel ban imposed by Iranian authorities.

Hekmati was detained in May 2025 while visiting relatives in Iran. He was subsequently sentenced by a Tehran Revolutionary Court for having traveled to Israel more than a decade ago to attend a religious ceremony. While his sentence was later reduced from four years to two years following legal changes, his family has raised concerns regarding his health, noting he suffers from aggressive bladder cancer.

Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the release. The case is cited by observers as an example of the use of dual nationals as diplomatic leverage, a practice often described as ‘hostage diplomacy’ by critics.