Contact: Bill McCarren for Voices Unbound, (301) 275-1597 or wmccarren@voicesunbound.org
WASHINGTON, June 9 — The following is a statement from the family of journalist Austin Tice regarding U.S. hostages in Iran.
“Like many Americans we heard the President on Meet the Press this weekend discuss U.S. hostages in Iran. He would not commit to raising the issue of hostages in negotiations, saying there is no list — give me the names.
There are names, and today we are asking to add the name of our son, journalist and Marine Austin Tice, to the list of hostages held by Iran. This list must also include Americans Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hecmati, who are declared wrongfully detained by the U.S. government. Valizadeh is also a journalist who once worked for Radio Free Europe.
Valizadeh, Hecmati, and Tice. It is a significant list. If other American families want to add the names of their loved ones to the list, we encourage them to do so. Reports suggest there may be four others.
We first began to publicly assert Austin was held by the IRGC in the spring of 2025. We did so on the record at news conferences and panels in May, August, December, and as recently as April of this year. This is not new for anyone who has been paying attention. Our assertions were based on a trove of information declassified by the government and provided to us last spring. The IRGC controlled the facilities in Syria where Austin was held. They have been holding him all along. We have continued to receive information in recent months pointing to the IRGC holding Austin.
As the U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Iran, it is essential that we take this opportunity — presented by ongoing high-level negotiations — to bring Americans home. Iran has a history of releasing hostages in parallel to negotiations. To not raise the issue is to miss a huge opportunity for America. It has been too long. We must act. Now is the time. Ask about Austin.
President Trump has long been a vocal advocate for Austin. We expect him to do what it takes to bring him home.”
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