Siamak Namazi, one of five American citizens released from imprisonment in Iran on Monday, has described his eight-year nightmare in custody, saying his captors “epitomised the baseness of humanity”.
He also called for the release of fellow inmates who sustained him during his time in Tehran's Evin prison.
Mr Namazi, an Iranian-American businessman, had been held since October 2015 on what the US called bogus espionage charges.
“As a hostage, 2,898 days of what should have been the best days of my life were stolen from me and supplanted with torment,” Mr Namazi said shortly after his release.
“What I want more than anything is assurance that no one else will know the interminable anguish that my family and I experienced. But sadly, many are suffering those miseries right now.”
He was released alongside Morad Tahbaz, Emad Sharghi and two other American citizens who have not been named.
Footage circulating online showed the group embracing the US ambassador to Qatar, who met them on the tarmac of the Doha airport where they landed after leaving Tehran – a powerful moment after years-long efforts to free them.
“For almost eight years, I have been dreaming of this day,” Mr Namazi said.
In 2016, Mr Namazi was convicted of collaborating with a hostile government. He went on to become the longest-serving Iranian-American prisoner held in Iran.
The former detainee described his time in Evin, saying that he experienced “the worst of humanity every day”. He went on to thank the Biden administration, his family and other people involved in his release before listing several other prisoners who helped sustain him over the years.
“While my captors epitomised the baseness of humanity, many of my fellow prisoners personified its nobleness,” he said.
“The only message that Iran’s leaders send the world by incarcerating such extraordinary people is that it revels in the endless depth of its gratuitous cruelty.”
Mr Namazi also said that he looked forward to spending time outdoors and taking care of some health issues, as well as catching up on the latest technology.
His father, Baquer Namazi, was detained in Iran in 2016 after he flew into the country to visit his son in prison.
The elder Mr Namazi was held until October 2022.
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Man of the match Kari Arnason (Iceland)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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if you go
The flights
Emirates fly direct from Dubai to Houston, Texas, where United have direct flights to Managua. Alternatively, from October, Iberia will offer connections from Madrid, which can be reached by both Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Emirates from Dubai.
The trip
Geodyssey’s (Geodyssey.co.uk) 15-night Nicaragua Odyssey visits the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, lively country villages, the lake island of Ometepe and a stunning array of landscapes, with wildlife, history, creative crafts and more. From Dh18,500 per person, based on two sharing, including transfers and tours but excluding international flights. For more information, visit visitnicaragua.us.
