The American Jewish Committee is asking on President Donald Trump to make the return of Individuals in Iranian custody an “pressing nationwide precedence,” as his administration works to protect a fragile ceasefire with Iran.
“America have to be unequivocal: the wrongful detention or hostage-taking of Individuals is not going to be accepted or sidelined,” the ADJ stated in an announcement issued collectively with different North American teams. “Our adversaries should acknowledge that harming Individuals has lasting penalties, and Individuals have to be assured that their authorities will pursue their return with unwavering resolve.”
Together with the AJC, the decision got here from the Basis for Protection of Democracies, the James W. Foley Legacy Basis, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and United In opposition to Nuclear Iran. The co-founders of the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board U.S., the American department of the group that advocated for the Israeli hostages in Gaza, additionally signed on.
The teams celebrated the Trump administration’s file of negotiating hostage releases, writing that it had “already demonstrated a unprecedented file in recovering Individuals from hostile areas, securing the discharge of over 70 Individuals since January 2025, together with each final hostage held in Gaza, residing or deceased.”
The teams wrote, “The flexibility of the U.S. to steer within the restoration of not simply Individuals held in Gaza, however to safe the discharge of all hostages taken by Hamas showcases that the time to behave decisively is now.”
Amongst these in captivity is Robert Levinson, a Jewish retired FBI particular agent who went lacking in Iran in 2007 throughout a enterprise journey. Levinson’s household introduced that he had died in Iranian custody in 2020.
“President Trump has introduced greater than 70 Individuals dwelling since January 2025,” Levinson’s household stated in an announcement. “We urge him to make Bob and each American held in Iran a precedence in these talks — and to demand that the boys answerable for our father’s abduction lastly account for what they did. After 19 years, please assist our household get the reality we have to transfer ahead, and provides our heroic father the justice he so rightfully deserves.”
The statements got here as Trump introduced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, a situation that Iran has stated was important for any longer-term peace cope with america and Israel.
On Friday, Trump advised Axios that he anticipated a everlasting cope with Iran to be reached “within the subsequent day or two,” and negotiators for the 2 international locations are anticipated to satisfy over the approaching days.
The potential deal, which has largely centered on suspending Iran’s nuclear exercise, is just not anticipated to incorporate any provisions concerning the launch of American hostages, which are sometimes dealt with by means of separate negotiations. In 2023, former President Joe Biden negotiated the discharge of 5 American prisoners in Iran in change for releasing $6 billion in frozen Iranian belongings.
There are indicators that america is excited by securing the discharge of Individuals in Iran. In February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Iran as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” writing in a launch on the time that “for many years, Iran has continued to cruelly detain harmless Individuals, in addition to residents of different nations, to make use of as political leverage in opposition to different states.”
Whereas it’s unclear precisely what number of American hostages are at the moment in Iranian captivity, United In opposition to Nuclear Iran at the moment maintains an inventory of 13 people.
“The Iranian regime should cease taking hostages and launch all Individuals unjustly detained in Iran, steps that might finish this designation and related actions,” Rubio stated. “We encourage it to take action.”
The Jewish and pro-Israel group are calling on the Trump administration to “make the protection, safety, and freedom of Individuals held captive in Iran a prime precedence and guarantee that is built-in into broader strategic discussions relating to Iran.”
They added, “We stand able to work with the Administration to convey each American held in Iran dwelling safely and swiftly. There isn’t a time to waste—the ethical and strategic crucial is evident.”
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