Wife of Boise Pastor Who Is Jailed in Iran Disappointed in Nuclear Deal

BOISE (KTVB) -- The wife of a Boise pastor held prisoner in Iran says she's deeply disappointed that the Iran nuclear deal announced Tuesday contained no assurance of her husband's release.

Naghmeh Abedini says she met with President Barack Obama in January - while he was visiting Boise - and urged him not to approve a nuclear deal without first working on releasing her husband.

However, Abedini now says she's focused on lobbying Congress to review the deal with her family in mind.

Christian pastor Saeed Abedini has been in Iranian custody since September 2012. He was sentenced to eight years for what was termed undermining state security when he attempted to build a church network in private homes.

The 34-year-old man is of Iranian origin but had been living in Boise.