Iran: Iranian-American journalist sentenced to 10-year prison term

Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, a former presenter for US-funded Radio Farda, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Iranian Revolutionary Court, highlighting the continued repression of journalists and dual nationals in Iran. His sentence was confirmed by Tehran’s appeals court in late January 2025. In addition to imprisonment, Valizadeh has been banned from leaving Iran or joining political groups for two years.

Valizadeh, who had lived abroad since 2010, returned to Iran in March 2024. Despite assurances from intermediaries that he would not face legal issues, he was arrested six months later on charges of “collaborating with a hostile US government” due to his prior work with Radio Farda. His trial was swift, held in two brief sessions led by Judge Iman Afshari, reportedly without full due process or prosecution participation. His lawyer criticized the legal proceedings, citing violations such as solitary confinement, denial of visitor access, and delayed court filings.

On June 7, 2025, Valizadeh began a hunger strike inside Tehran’s Evin Prison to protest the authorities’ continued confiscation of his personal documents, including financial and legal papers needed to manage his assets abroad. This marks his second hunger strike, following a previous protest earlier in 2025 over the fairness of his trial.

International organizations have strongly condemned Valizadeh’s treatment. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) labeled the sentence “disproportionate” and called for his immediate release, as well as the release of all journalists imprisoned in Iran. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also criticized the confiscation of his documents, describing it as part of Iran’s broader practice of using legal and financial pressure to intimidate dissidents.

Valizadeh remains detained in Evin Prison under harsh conditions, with limited access to legal representation and restricted visits from family. His case reflects the Iranian government’s ongoing use of national security charges to silence journalists, target dual nationals, and exert diplomatic leverage. Press freedom groups continue to demand his release and broader reforms to protect journalists in Iran from arbitrary detention and politically motivated prosecution.