An American-Iranian journalist, formerly employed by the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), is reportedly detained in Iran. Reza Valizadeh was arrested in Tehran in September, as confirmed by sources close to his family and RFE/RL. Despite this, Iran has not officially acknowledged his detention.
The US State Department has stated that it is aware of reports regarding the arrest of a dual US-Iranian citizen in Iran and is collaborating with Switzerland to gather more information on the case.
RFE/RL expressed deep concern over the arrest of Valizadeh and the ongoing harassment faced by media professionals in Iran. The charges against Valizadeh remain unconfirmed, and he is believed to be held in Evin prison, known for housing critics of the Iranian regime.
Valizadeh's social media posts indicated that Iranian authorities pressured his family to persuade him to return to Iran. He later posted about his return to Tehran in March 2024 after negotiations with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Human Rights Activists News Agency have called for Valizadeh's immediate release and the dropping of any charges against him. The State Department has issued a warning against travel to Iran due to the risks of kidnapping and arbitrary arrest of US citizens.
Iran has a history of using dual nationals as bargaining tools in its relations with the West. The current situation coincides with the 25th anniversary of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, highlighting the complexities of US-Iran relations.
