WASHINGTON On a trip to Iran a decade ago, former Rep. Jim Slattery exchanged a Rock Chalk, Jayhawk cheer with an Iranian official who had attended the University of Kansas and remembered Slatterys time as a Democratic congressman from the state.
Slattery struck up a friendship with Majid Takht-Ravanchi, now Irans ambassador to the United Nations, based on their Kansas ties.
This relationship and others Slattery has built with Iranian officials in the years since he left Congress played a role in brokering an international prisoner swap this month between the U.S. and Iran after decades of hostility.
The Trump administration announced Saturday that Iran agreed to release Xiyue Wang, a Chinese-American doctoral student at Princeton University who had been held prisoner for the last three years on espionage charges.
Wang was released in exchange for Masoud Soleimani, an Iranian stem cell researcher who faced federal prosecution on allegations that he had violated U.S. sanctions.
Slattery, who served in the U.S. House from 1983 to 1995, became involved in the case on a pro bono basis six months ago when he was contacted by Wangs attorney, Jason Poblete.
First thing I did was contact that Iranians that I know, said Slattery, who has been involved in faith-based outreach efforts to Iran for 15 years through Catholic University. Among them was Takht-Ravanchi.
He had fond memories of his time in Lawrence, Kansas, and that gave us a personal connection, Slattery said.
Takht-Ravanchi served as an intermediary between Slattery and Irans foreign minister in recent months as the two were in regular communication about the case.
I dont want to overemphasize this, but I do think the Kansas connection was helpful, Slattery said.
Heres Majid Ravanchi as a young student studying at the University of Kansas and fast forward 25 years hes the ambassador for Iran to the United Nations, Slattery said. And hes a guy who wants to figure out a better relationship between Iran and the United States based on mutual respect.
Poblete, who regularly handles cases involving U.S. citizens held overseas, said he didnt know Slattery before the Wang matter, but people had recommended he contact him based on his experience with Iran. Poblete said he wishes he had contacted Slattery earlier in the process.
I do believe that his role was extremely important, especially his network in the Abrahamic dialogue, Poblete said.
When you know someone and that person on the other side has a trust factor I think it helps immensely, Poblete said.
Poblete emphasized that his team kept the Trump administration abreast of all of its dealings with the Iranian government throughout process and worked closely with the FBI and the State Departments Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
