The U.S. envoy for hostage affairs Tuesday called on Iran and Russia to use their influence in Syria to help free Austin Tice, an American freelance journalist who was taken captive there six years ago and is believed to be alive.
Robert O’Brien, the point man trying to secure the release of about 20 Americans held unjustly around the world, said some countries are being “very helpful” in trying to get Tice freed. Asked which countries were not being helpful, he replied: “The Iranians are not helpful. And they’re heavily involved in Syria.”
Later, he added, “If Iran wants better relations with the United States, it should use its influence in Syria to help us return Austin home.”
O’Brien sounded a similar note when asked about Russia, which provides military support to the Syrian government.
“One of the things that both Russia and the United States should agree on is that innocent Americans, or innocent Russians, for that matter, should not be held hostage and should not be held against their will,” he said. “We continue to call on the Russians to exert whatever influence they can in Syria to bring Austin home.”
The status of U.S. efforts to free citizens imprisoned overseas as geopolitical pawns is a closely held secret. O’Brien, who was appointed to the job in July, made public remarks during an event at the National Press Club focused on raising reward money for information on Tice, 37.
The former Marine and Georgetown University law student was in Syria reporting on the beginnings of the civil war when he was taken prisoner in August 2012. His stories focusing on the war’s impact on civilians appeared in The Washington Post and McClatchy Newspapers.
Despite the passage of years, U.S. officials and Tice’s parents, Marc Tice and Debra Tice, are convinced he is still alive.
