The letter begins a new campaign for concerned individuals to call on Rouhani urging Abedini's release. The "Be Heard Project" is organized by the American Center for Law and Justice, which is representing Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, in the U.S.
The legal center has gathered signatures from more than 623,000 people who are asking for the pastor's release.
"Every minute, every day Saeed is apart from us is more excruciating than the next," Naghmeh said in a Sept. 16 statement. "Now, I am faced with the painful realization that our kids are growing up without their father. We are praying for a miracle just to be able to see him again."
"In a week from now, the president of Iran will be on U.S. soil," she added, saying that she wondered "whether my government will use this opportunity to appeal directly to President Rouhani for the release of my husband."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has issued two statements on Abedini's situation, asking for his release, though President Obama has not yet spoken on the prisoner's behalf.
"I hope President Obama will break his deafening silence and speak out for my husband. But I also ask that everyone join me in appealing directly to President Rouhani by writing letters urging him to release Saeed," Naghmeh asked.
The latest round of appeals for Abedini comes amid reports that Iran chose to free 11 political prisoners Sept. 18. Among them was Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer who was held in Evin Prison along with Abedini.
According to The Guardian, Iran holds nearly 800 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including lawyers, journalists, feminists, and followers of Christianity, Baha'i, and Sunni Islam.
Adelaide Mena was the DC Correspondent for Catholic News Agency until 2017 and is a 2012 graduate of Princeton University.