Lawyer: Father of detainee also held in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran -- A U.S. citizen whose son has been detained in Iran for the past four months also was taken into custody after returning to the country this week, his lawyer confirmed Thursday in what is the first such action against an American national in Iran since last month's prisoner swap between the two countries.

The Iranian lawyer, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabei, said he has not been able to make contact with his client, Baquer Namazi, despite his efforts and was told by authorities he would "be informed later" about the case.

The ailing, 80-year-old Namazi is being held in Tehran's Evin prison, he added.

Tabatabei said he believes it is unlikely Namazi, who was detained Monday, will face "political charges," but he probably is held "for some investigation only."

"It is unlikely that he will be charged," the lawyer said, without elaborating.

Baquer Namazi and his son Siamak Namazi, who is believed to have been detained since October in Iran and also is held in Evin prison, are dual U.S.-Iranian citizens.

Iranian authorities do not recognize dual nationality, however, and treat such citizens as exclusively Iranian.

Tabatabei said he was asked to represent both Namazis by Effie Namazi, Baquer's wife. He has not made contact with the son, either, he said, and only learned from Effie Namazi her son faces accusations of "cooperation with the hostile government of the United States."