NPR

For Relatives Of U.S. Prisoners In Iran, Uncertainty Grows After Iran Deal Pullout

The Trump administration's decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal may complicate efforts to free American citizens detained in Iran, former U.S. diplomats warn.

When North Korea released three U.S. prisoners last Wednesday amid increased engagement with Washington, the families of U.S. citizens detained in Iran couldn't help but wonder about prospects for their own loved ones. Just a day earlier, the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed economic sanctions on Iran. For the detainees' relatives, it has been a painful and uncertain time.

"The release of the three Americans from North Korea — I saw the news, I cried," said Hua Qu, whose husband Xiyue Wang, a Princeton University graduate student and naturalized

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