Hekmati was accused of working for the CIA and sentenced to death in January. His family and the US government have both denied the allegations.
The Judiciary announced last week that Iran’s Supreme Court had ordered a retrial for Hekmati. (See last week’s Iran Times, page two.) As far back as March, the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) had reported that, though no official announcement was made until last week.
His family released a statement Friday saying it had received “little and confusing information” about his case since March.
The statement also noted that Saturday was his Hekmati’s 29th birthday and said family members still hope for his safe return.
“While it is still unclear to us what is happening, we hope a decision is made soon and you are allowed to come home to your family,” the statement said. “We continue to believe there is a terrible misunderstanding.”
Hekmati was born in Arizona and grew up in Michigan where his father, Ali Hekmati, teaches at Mott Community College in Flint.