Iranian-American Journalist Reza Valizadeh Wrongfully Detained in Iran

January 20, 2026 – Iran –

Reza Abdolreza “Reza” Valizadeh, a **49-year-old dual Iranian-American journalist and longtime critic of Tehran’s security apparatus, remains in detention in **Iran’s notorious Evin Prison after being arrested on September 22, 2024, by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during a visit to his homeland. Valizadeh’s case has drawn international attention as an emblematic example of state repression against independent journalists and dual nationals accused of vaguely defined “national security” offenses.

Valizadeh had returned to Iran in March 2024 for the first time in 15 years to care for his aging parents, believing authorities had given assurances it was safe to travel. Within months, IRGC agents detained him in Tehran, confiscated his belongings — including his U.S. passport — and transferred him to solitary confinement at Evin, a facility known for housing political prisoners and media figures.

Iranian courts subsequently charged Valizadeh with “collaborating with a hostile government,” a vague national security offense commonly invoked against journalists, activists, and dual nationals critical of the regime. Independent reporting indicates he continues to be held without meaningful access to legal counsel or family contact, particularly since a nationwide internet blackout and intensified government crackdown in early 2026.

In May 2025, the U.S. State Department formally designated Valizadeh as “wrongfully detained,” placing his case under the remit of the State Department’s hostage affairs office and signalling Washington’s intent to prioritise his release as part of broader diplomatic engagement with Tehran. U.S. officials, including the White House and State Department, have publicly stated they are monitoring the case closely and have pressed for his return, amid heightened tensions between the two nations.

Valizadeh’s journalistic career spans more than two decades, including work for Radio Farda, the Persian-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and other independent media. Before his arrest, he was known for critical reporting on Iran’s power structures, security agencies, and civil liberties issues. His detention reflects a broader pattern of repression against journalists and foreign or dual nationals, in which authorities frequently use ambiguous security laws to silence dissent.

Rights groups and legal representatives have petitioned the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Valizadeh’s behalf, seeking international scrutiny of his detention conditions and urging Iran to uphold its obligations under international human rights norms. Advocates describe his continued incarceration as arbitrary and politically motivated, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.

Reference –

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reza-valizadeh-detained-iran/