Barry Rosen, who was one of 52 hostages at the American embassy in Tehran from 1979 to 1981, was in Vienna for the past few days to put pressure on the Western powers who are negotiating at the moment.

Former American hostage in Tehran calls for the release of Westerners detained in Iran

Former US hostage in Iran Barry Rosen as he begins a hunger strike outside the 'Palais Coburg', the venue for talks with Iran over the nuclear program in Vienna, Austria on January 19 2022. AP - Lisa Leutner

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Barry Rosen, who was one of 52 hostages at the American embassy in Tehran from 1979 to 1981, was in Vienna for the past few days to put pressure on the Western powers currently negotiating with Iran over nuclear power.

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He has drawn features.

Barry Rosen, 77, is coming off a hunger strike.

On the plane that brings him back to the United States, after his stay in Vienna, the former American hostage posts this video on social networks.

I don't forget any hostage held in Iran,

" he said.

My message is always the same: do not sign a nuclear agreement until all the hostages are freed.
Yes, I am exhausted by my hunger strike and by all the work accomplished: contacting the negotiators, talking to the families, even to the hostages held in Evin.
We are still mobilized to exert pressure, to free these hostages and their families from suffering.

This morning was my last in Vienna.

Even though I am leaving, the #FreeTheHostages movement will continue.

We must not forget them and we must continue to demand their release before any deal is struck with Iran.

Thank you all once again for your incredible support.

pic.twitter.com/nR9DMpUDTW

— Barry Rosen (@brosen1501) January 26, 2022

Barry Rosen was detained during the long

hostage crisis at the American embassy

in Tehran, from 1979 to 1981, he came out of it traumatized and is now mobilizing for others.

“

I suffered from 1979 to 1981 and I don't want others to suffer the same ordeal.
So I told myself that I had to act

”, he said in front of the “Cobourg palace”, place of negotiations of the Western powers around Iranian nuclear.

It is in this luxurious hotel that Barry Rosen took up residence last week, closer to the action even if guards ensure that he does not come into contact with the delegations.

Once on Viennese soil, he began a hunger strike, which he ended on Sunday evening for health reasons.

A ray of hope for Western prisoners

The ex-hostage was obviously heard: the American emissary Robert Malley, who met him several times, promised him that the American detainees would not be forgotten.

“

It is very difficult for us to imagine going back to the
nuclear deal
while
four innocent people
are being held hostage by Iran

,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed Monday.

For its part, Tehran deemed it "

possible to reach a reliable and lasting agreement on the two subjects in a very short time

A dozen Westerners, often dual nationals, are currently detained in Iran on espionage charges which they categorically deny.

Among them,

the Frenchman Benjamin Brière

who was sentenced on Tuesday January 25 to eight years in prison for espionage and propaganda against the regime.

Former American hostage in Tehran calls for the release of Westerners detained in Iran

Former American hostage in Tehran calls for the release of Westerners detained in Iran

A ray of hope for Western prisoners

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