美国呼吁伊朗总统释放三名美国人

The United States has issued an appeal to Iran\'s new president, asking for his help in returning three Americans to their families after lengthy detentions in the Islamic Republic.

The State Department, in a statement Wednesday, said Washington is "respectfully" asking President Hasan Rouhani to facilitate the return of 65-year-old Robert Levinson, and dual American-Iranian citizens Amir Hekmati and Saeed Abedini.

Levinson, a retired FBI agent and father of seven children, went missing from Kish Island, Iran in March 2007 while researching a smuggling case as a private investigator.  The U.S. statement said Abedini is serving an eight-year prison term on charges related to his religious beliefs, while Hekmati -- a former U.S. Marine -- is being held on what U.S. officials call "false espionage charges."

The U.S. statement noted that President Rouhani, who took office earlier this month, has publicly voiced hope for improved relations with the global community.

美国国务院星期三发表声明说，华盛顿吁请鲁哈尼总统促成释放65岁的莱文森以及伊朗裔美国公民赫克马提和阿布迪尼。

莱文森是退休的美国联邦调查局特工，他有七个子女。2007年，作为独立调查员的莱文森在调查一起走私案件期间在伊朗基什岛失踪。美国国务院的声明说，阿布迪尼正在服八年刑期，他因自己的宗教信仰而被判罪。赫克马提是前美国海军陆战队员。美国官员说，他是无辜的，但被控犯有间谍罪，目前受到拘押。

美国国务院的声明指出，本月早些时候就职的鲁哈尼总统曾公开表示希望改善伊朗与国际社会的关系。