Shane Bauer was imprisoned in Iran for more than two years, between July 2009 and September 2011. Here, he speaks at a press conference following his release, flanked by his girlfriend and friend who were were captured with him. | Getty Former Iran prisoner slams Clinton's call for new sanctions

Shane Bauer knows firsthand what it’s like to be a prisoner in Iran. And after news broke Saturday morning about the exchange that delivered four imprisoned Americans, he had plenty to say about Hillary Clinton’s response to the developments in Iran.

In a series of tweets posted late Saturday night, Bauer, who is now a senior reporter at Mother Jones, called Clinton’s appeal for more sanctions “totally irresponsible” and accused her of constantly inflaming tensions with Iran.


“Seriously, why would Hillary call for more sanctions *now*? As far as we know, 4 of the Americans are still in Iran. Totally irresponsible,” he tweeted.

In her response to the prisoner exchange and implementation day of the Iran nuclear agreement, Clinton noted that one American, Bob Levinson, is still being held in Iran. Observing that “Iran is still violating UN Security Council resolution with its ballistic missile program,” Clinton called for “new sanctions designations and firm resolve.”

Four Americans detained in Iran — Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari — were released as part of the exchange. A fifth American in custody, a student by the name of Matthew Trevithick, was released separately on Saturday.

Bauer also tweeted that while he was imprisoned in Iran, “whenever I heard Hillary’s voice, my heart would sink. All she ever does with Iran is inflame tensions.”

He expressed shock, or perhaps sarcasm, at the fact that Clinton — the Democratic front-runner in a narrow primary of three — was calling for sanctions, rather than Republican front-runners Donald Trump or Ted Cruz.

Wow, who is calling for new sanctions on Iran in the wake of this major breakthrough? Trump? Cruze? Nope. Clinton! https://t.co/StIsQ2siev — Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) January 17, 2016

Bauer was living in Damascus in 2009 as a freelance journalist with his girlfriend and friend, hiking on a mountain trail when they were taken into custody by Iranian border guards in July 2009. He was held in solitary confinement in Iran's notorious Evin Prison and sentenced to 8 years on charges of spying and entering the country illegally. Released in September 2011 after mediation by the sultan of Oman, Bauer wrote about his "nightmare" experience in an essay for Mother Jones.