Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch today announced that the full Senate will vote Monday, at 3:30 p.m. MDT, on S.Con.Res 16, regarding American prisoners held in Iran. Risch’s legislation calls for the release of four Americans being held as political prisoners in Iran and directs the administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to do that. One such tool, of course, is to refuse to lift sanctions without securing the American prisoners’ release.

 The resolution calls for the release of Pastor Saeed Abedini of Boise, as well as the release of former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, former FBI agent Robert Levinson, and Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian.

 “It is only right that the President should ensure Iran frees Pastor Abedini and the other Americans they have held captive for too many years before the United States provides any sanctions relief,” said Risch. “In its current state, the Iran deal is a bad deal for America. The government in Iran stands only to gain from the agreement they are making with the Obama administration. I’m glad that commonsense has prevailed and Congress will at least have the opportunity to review the final deal, but there is still more that must be done to help our fellow Americans being held in Iran. I am looking for a strong vote from the Senate on Monday.”

 The United States Senate will vote on this legislation on Monday, May 11, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. MDT.

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