By Mark Roberts
Hello, fellow Americans. I’m a proud member of the Americans for a Stronger Navy, a group that advocates for a robust and well-equipped naval force to protect our nation’s interests and values. Today, I want to share with you a remarkable story of courage, friendship, and gratitude that involves a Navy veteran and an Iranian political activist who met in an Iranian prison. This story shows the resilience and compassion of our sailors, the plight of political prisoners in Iran, and the need for diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Americans detained abroad.
Michael White: A Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for several years on spying charges
Michael White is a Navy veteran who served in the Persian Gulf War and later worked as a cook for the Department of Veterans Affairs. In July 2018, he traveled to Iran to visit his girlfriend in Mashhad, a city in northeastern Iran. He was arrested by Iranian authorities on vague charges of espionage and insulting the country’s supreme leader. He was interrogated, beaten, isolated, denied medical care, and threatened with execution. He spent nearly two years in Iran’s notorious Vakilabad prison, where he contracted COVID-19 and suffered from cancer.
Mahdi Vatankhah: An Iranian political activist who befriended White and helped him survive
Mahdi Vatankhah is an Iranian political activist who was also imprisoned in Iran for his involvement in anti-government protests in 2017. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison for “spreading propaganda against the system” and “insulting the supreme leader”. He was tortured, starved, and forced to confess on state television. He met White in Vakilabad prison and became his friend and protector. He helped White communicate with his family and survive the harsh conditions of the prison. He provided White’s mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her son’s status in prison and passed along letters White had written while he was locked up. He also taught White some Farsi and shared his dreams of freedom and democracy.
How White was released in June 2020 as part of a prisoner swap deal between Iran and the US
In June 2020, White was released from Iran as part of a prisoner swap deal between Iran and the US. The deal involved the exchange of White for Majid Taheri, an Iranian-American doctor who had been held in the US for violating sanctions on Iran. White was flown to Switzerland, where he was greeted by US officials and reunited with his family. He thanked President Joe Biden and his administration for securing his release and expressed his gratitude to Vatankhah for saving his life.
How White helped Vatankhah flee Iran and come to the US
White did not forget Vatankhah’s kindness and friendship. He pushed successfully this year for Vatankhah’s admission to the US, allowing the men to be reunited last spring, something neither could have envisioned when they first met in prison years earlier. White contacted Jonathan Franks, a consultant in the US for families of American hostages and detainees, who helped him lobby the State Department and other agencies to grant Vatankhah a humanitarian parole visa. Vatankhah managed to escape from Iran with the help of smugglers and made his way to Turkey, where he waited for several months until he received his visa. He arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on June 1, 2023, where he was warmly welcomed by White and Franks.
Why this story matters
This story matters because it demonstrates the values of honor, courage, and commitment that are instilled in every sailor who serves our country with dignity and bravery. White showed honor by staying loyal to his friend and helping him escape from tyranny. He showed courage by enduring unimaginable hardships and never giving up hope. He showed commitment by fulfilling his promise to Vatankhah and bringing him to safety.
This story also matters because it illustrates the human rights violations and repression that are rampant in Iran, where thousands of political prisoners are languishing in jails without due process or fair trials. Vatankhah’s story is one of many that expose the brutality of the Iranian regime and its disregard for basic freedoms and dignity.
Finally, this story matters because it underscores the importance of diplomacy and negotiation to secure the freedom of Americans who are unjustly detained in foreign countries. The prisoner swap deal that led to White’s release was a result of months of behind-the-scenes talks between US and Iranian officials, facilitated by Switzerland as a neutral mediator. The humanitarian parole visa that allowed Vatankhah to come to the US was a result of persistent advocacy by White, Franks, and other supporters, who appealed to the humanitarian and moral values of the US government.
Conclusion
I hope this story has inspired you and moved you as much as it has me. I admire and thank White and Vatankhah for their courage, friendship, and gratitude. I also thank and salute all the American sailors who serve our country with honor, courage, and commitment. They are the reason why we need a stronger Navy to defend our nation and our allies.
I urge you to support the Americans for a Stronger Navy group, which works to educate the public and policymakers about the vital role of the Navy in ensuring our security and prosperity. I also urge you to advocate for human rights and democracy in Iran, where millions of people are suffering under a repressive regime. And I urge you to demand the release of other Americans who are still held hostage by Iran or other hostile regimes, such as Siamak Namazi, Baquer Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi, and Kylie Moore-Gilbert.
Thank you for your attention and support.
Please feel free to comment or share your thoughts on this blog post. God bless America and God bless our Navy.