An Iranian-American journalist, who previously worked for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster, is believed to have been detained by Iran for several months, as confirmed by the U.S. State Department. Reza Valizadeh, a former employee of Radio Farda, an outlet under Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, was reportedly imprisoned in Iran. Valizadeh's detention coincided with Iran's commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the American Embassy takeover and hostage crisis.
Valizadeh had indicated on social media that his family members were detained in an attempt to coerce his return to Iran. Despite Radio Farda being viewed unfavorably by Iran's government, Valizadeh posted messages suggesting his return to Iran in August. Reports indicated that he was initially detained upon arrival in Iran earlier this year, released, and then rearrested and sent to Evin prison for a case in Iran's Revolutionary Court.
The State Department, in response to inquiries about Valizadeh's situation, stated that they were collaborating with Swiss partners, who represent U.S. interests in Iran, to gather more information. The department condemned Iran's practice of unjustly imprisoning individuals for political reasons, labeling it as cruel and contrary to international law.
Iran has not officially acknowledged detaining Valizadeh, and the Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately comment on the matter. The Voice of America was the first to report the acknowledgment of Valizadeh's detention by the State Department.
Since the 1979 U.S. Embassy crisis, Iran has frequently used individuals with Western ties as bargaining tools in international negotiations. Notably, in September 2023, five Americans detained in Iran were released in exchange for five Iranians held in the U.S. and the release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets by South Korea. Valizadeh is the first known American to be detained by Iran since that exchange.
On the anniversary of the embassy takeover, Iranian state television aired footage of various cities in Iran marking the occasion. General Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard, reiterated Iran's commitment to equipping itself to confront and defeat its enemies. In Tehran, crowds chanted anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, burned flags, and displayed images of slain leaders of Iran's allied militant groups, expressing readiness to defend Palestinians.
