The United States has urged Iran to immediately release jailed Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, amid growing concerns over her deteriorating health in custody. American officials said Mohammadi, 54, is believed to have suffered two heart attacks in recent weeks, intensifying calls for urgent medical intervention and her unconditional release.

In a statement posted on social media, Riley Barnes, the US Assistant Secretary of State responsible for human rights issues, said Washington was deeply concerned about Mohammadi’s condition. He called on Iranian authorities to “release her now and give her the care she needs,” adding that “the world is watching” her situation closely.

Mohammadi, a prominent Iranian activist and long-time critic of the country’s clerical leadership, has spent much of the past two decades in and out of prison. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her sustained campaign against the death penalty and advocacy for women’s rights and democratic freedoms in Iran.

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Her supporters have raised alarm over her health, warning that her continued detention could pose a serious risk to her life. Reports suggest she has recently experienced significant medical complications while incarcerated, though Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed details of her current condition.

Mohammadi was arrested again in December after she publicly criticised the Islamic Republic during a funeral for a lawyer. Her detention has drawn renewed international scrutiny, particularly as human rights organisations continue to document crackdowns on dissent within Iran.

The appeal from Washington comes amid broader geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran. US officials have increasingly used human rights cases to highlight concerns over political repression in adversarial states, while often maintaining a more restrained public stance toward allied governments.

Mohammadi has also been a vocal critic of regional conflicts involving Iran, previously condemning violence during Israeli military actions and warning that war only worsens conditions for ordinary civilians. Her case remains a focal point of international human rights advocacy as calls for her release intensify.

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