President Obama Asks Iranian President for Release of Pastor Saeed, Watch 7eventh Time Down 'Just Say Jesus' (#SaveSaeed) (VIDEO)

President Obama spoke with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday in the first open talks with U.S. and Iran in over 30 years. 

The conversation was mostly about nuclear issues, but Obama did bring up three American citizens being held in Iran, with one being Pastor Saeed. 

This is the first time that President Obama has spoken of Saeed. Pastor's wife, Naghmeh, said it was "the most encouraging news I have heard since Saeed was imprisoned one year ago."

"I am very grateful to President Obama for standing up for Saeed and for the other Americans who are held captive in Iran," Naghmeh shared. "This development is truly an answer to prayer. I urge President Rouhani, as I have done throughout this week, to release Saeed so he can return to our home and our family in the United States. In recent days, Iran has released 80 prisoners being held because of their beliefs. I pray that we can add Saeed to that list very soon."

Join us in praying for the release of Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-born American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his faith.

Christian rock band 7eventh Time Down made their "Just Say Jesus" music video around the story of Pastor Saeed (watch above). 

Pastor Saeed Abedini has been imprisoned since last September when he was suddenly arrested in Iran while visiting family and helping to build an orphanage. 

In January, Saeed, the 33-year-old pastor from Boise, was convicted with the crime of promoting Christianity through house churches and sentenced to 8 years in prison. He has been kept in jail with wound suffered from reported abuse and has gotten no medical treatment. 

Pastor Saeed's wife, Boisean Naghmeh Abedini, traveled to speak at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva earlier this year to try to get his release authorized. 

"For nearly a year, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to silence my husband, Saeed Abedini, through illegal imprisonment, torture and threats against our family," told the UN council. "Why is he being held? Because he exercised his rights of religious freedom, expression and peaceful assembly."

Please pray for Saeed's health and faith to keep him strong and for peace for his family while they fight for his release and spread the word.