Senate Calls Obama to Secure Saeed's Release

The Senate is calling on President Barack Obama to secure the release of American Pastor Saeed Abedini and other Americans held by the regime.

The congressional body has unanimously passed a resolution to that effect Monday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Abedini was imprisoned simply for trying to start an orphanage. He also described the abuse the pastor has suffered in prison.

Speaking from the Senate floor, McConnell said Saeed has been "beaten, denied access to medical care, and locked away in solitary confinement."

"That's apparently how the regime deals with those who dare to show love and compassion to others," the Kentucky lawmaker charged.

Calling on bipartisan support for the resolution, McConnell said, "I think we'd all agree that, at the very least, the American government should not be rewarding Iran for its disgraceful human rights abuses, that we should not be granting Iran the funding to pursue its nuclear weapons program and terrorist proxies while this exploitation continues."

The resolution was sponsored by Sen. James Risch of Idaho, the home state of Abedinia and his wife, Nagmeh, and their two children.