A House committee advanced legislation on Tuesday toward a potential floor vote that would call on Iran to release three American political prisoners.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously approved a resolution urging Iran to free imprisoned American.
Lawmakers said that releasing the prisoners would demonstrate Iran’s commitment to international cooperation as it negotiates a deal over its nuclear weapons program.
“If top Iranian officials can’t be counted on to assist these wrongfully jailed Americans, can they be counted on to honor the commitments they make at the negotiating table? Call me a skeptic,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) said.
Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), the resolution’s author, represents the district where Hekmati’s family lives in Flint, Mich.
The Senate passed a similar measure last month by a vote of 90-0.
The Obama administration and other world powers are working toward a June 30 deadline for reaching a final agreement with Iran. Negotiators announced a framework for a deal in April.
Congress sent a bill to President Obama’s desk in May that gives lawmakers an opportunity to review the final Iranian nuclear deal.