July-August 2015 – The U.S. Senate voted unanimously on a resolution calling for the freeing of American hostages held in Iran, including Pastor Saeed Abedini. The resolution was passed on May 11, separated by just a few days from the passage of legislation allowing Congress to review and vote on a nuclear deal with Iran. The implication is that the Senate would want to see the release of American citizens imprisoned in Iran before approving a nuclear deal.
As Matthew Clark with American Center for Law and Justice explained,“The same senators who unanimously passed this demand for Pastor Saeed and the other Americans’ freedom are the same senators who will now have the authority to review any potential deal or final deal with Iran over the nuclear negotiations.”
