John Kerry chose the third anniversary of U.S. citizen Amir Hekmati’s “detention on false espionage charges” during a visit with his family in Iran in 2011 to “respectfully” call on the government of Iran to release Hekmati and several other U.S. citizens held or missing in that country. Saeed Abedini and Jason Rezaian, the latter a Washington Post reporter, are also being held. Kerry also called on Iran to help facilitate the location and return of Robert Levinson, missing since 2007.

Here is the full statement: