It has been 37 years since the U.S. embassy takeover in Tehran. Barry Rosen, an advisory board member of United Against Nuclear Iran and Iran Hostage Crisis survivor Barry Rosen, said in a TIME magazine op-ed, that nothing has changed in almost four decades since he was imprisoned and tortured.
The Iranian regime commemorates the U.S. embassy takeover every year by holding anti-American rallies. During demonstrations, the American flag was burned and the crowd shouted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.
With regards to the Iranian regime’s anti-American activities and extremism and the upcoming U.S. presidential election, Mr. Rosen said: “It is imperative that the Presidential candidates and our policymakers in Congress understand that the Iranian regime that held my colleagues and me hostage has not reformed its ways.”
He also said that he is disappointed to see that Americans are still being taken hostage and jailed on made-up charges. “My fellow survivors and I are dismayed to see the same actions being taken against fellow Americans in Iran today. There have been a number of dual nationals held on unsubstantiated charges–just like I was–sentenced to years in Iranian prisons without recourse.”
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) say that one of their new resources, “Iran’s American Hostages”, profiles the five American citizens and residents who are currently being unfairly held in Iran. It can be viewed here.
Rosen, in a “sobering assessment” of the Iranian regime, said: “The next President must acknowledge the realities of inner turmoil in Iran, and be prepared to take a hard line against Khamenei and his regime as they push the envelope. Regardless of who wins the Iranian elections in March, we already know the regime holds the power and has no intention of working diplomatically with the West. The fanciful notion that the nuclear deal would bring about better relations between our two countries has been dispelled; a new administration will have the chance to cast a spotlight on Iran for the bad global actor it is.”
