Labrador Reacts to Latest Developments with Iran & Pastor Abedini

Statement

Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-ID) released the following statement today after it was revealed that President Obama advocated for the release of American pastor Saeed Abedini as part of his historic phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

"I commend President Obama for advocating for the release of Pastor Abedini in his first conversation with Iran's President," said Rep. Labrador. "However, I am concerned that the Iranian government is more interested in words than actions. If the Iranian government is sincerely committed to action, a good first step would be to immediately release Pastor Abedini. All negotiations with Iran should end until that basic humanitarian action has been taken."

Pastor Abedini, a resident of Boise, Idaho, is serving an eight-year sentence in Iran for "threatening the national security" of that country. In reality, he was in Iran to work on a new orphanage.

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