Naghmeh Abedini, wife of American Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, told
Newsmax TV she was disappointed Pope Francis didn't specifically call out Iran on Thursday when he talked about religious persecution.
Saeed Abedini, an Iranian American, has been held by the Iranian government for three years, accused of holding private religious gatherings. Earlier this week he was Tased and threatened with additional charges.
"I was expecting more on religious freedom issues and Iran's continuous violation of human rights issues," Abedini said of the pope's message to Congress. "Of course my husband's in prison and being just one example of many religious minorities being persecuted – Christians, especially."
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The White House reportedly has asked the Vatican to intervene on behalf of Abedini and up to three other Americans being held in Iran.
"I'm hoping that there's some relationship between the pope and the Iranian government, the Vatican and the Iranian government," Abedini told "Newsmax Now" host John Bachman.
"They listen to the pope, they listen to the Vatican."
The Iranian government appears to have respect for the Vatican, as the Catholic Church is one of the few Christian churches still allowed in Iran, she said.
Abedini said she has meet with more than 100 Parliament leaders in 50 countries. Sixty-seven of them have signed a letter demanding the release of her husband, she said.
"I'm not going to back down until my husband's back on American soil, and if it means going to different countries one by one and talking to each leader, to each Parliament, I will do that," she said.
"I haven't seen my kids in the last three years. I've had to travel, unfortunately, and my kids have been suffering without a father and a mother."