Iranian-US businessman and father given 10-year sentences in Iran

Siamak Namazi, international relations expert and business consultant, was arrested as he arrived in Tehran a year ago

TEHRAN: A US businessman and his 80-year-old father have each been given 10 years in prison for "collaborating with the hostile American government", the state-linked Mizan Online news agency reported on Tuesday.

Siamak Namazi, an international relations expert and business consultant, was arrested as he arrived in Tehran a year ago. His father, former UN Children's Fund employee Baquer Namazi, was detained in February when he came to Iran to seek his son's release.

Video footage of Namazi's arrest was published by Mizan, which is linked to the judiciary, earlier this week. It was presented with dramatic music alongside images of his US passport and shots of Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian who spent two years in prison on espionage charges.



Mizan said three other people were also sentenced to 10 years for collaboration with the United States -- including Lebanese-American Nezar Zaka and two others identified only by the initials FHA and AA.

State television reported Zaka's arrest in November 2015 on suspicion of having "numerous deep links to the US military intelligence community". Baquer Namazi's former employer Unicef issued a statement last month saying it was "deeply concerned about his health and well-being".