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New Letter Seeks Release Of Ex-Marine Held In Iran

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER
Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) - A former defense secretary and three retired high-ranking generals are asking President Barack Obama to use the timing of an interim nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran to gain the release of an ex-Marine from Michigan who's being held on spying charges.

Amir Hekmati has spent more than two years in prison after traveling to Iran to visit his grandmothers. His family lives in the Flint area.

The letter dated Monday and signed by one-time Secretary of Defense William Cohen and retired Gens. Peter Pace, James Jones and Joseph Ralston comes as a six-month temporary agreement goes into effect partially halting Iran's nuclear progress.

The letter, first reported on by The New York Times, says "now is the perfect time for the release of Mr. Hekmati."

© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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