The US State Division alleged on Sunday that Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist, beforehand employed by a US government-funded broadcaster, has been detained in Iran for a number of months, in response to an Related Press’ report. This affirmation comes when Iran commemorated the 45th anniversary of the American Embassy takeover and hostage disaster on Sunday.
Valizadeh is reportedly the primary identified American to be detained by Iran for the reason that current escalation in tensions. The alleged imprisonment of Reza Valizadeh holds significance as Iran’s supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened each US and Israel with a powerful retaliation to a Tel Aviv’s assault on the nation.
The journalist was previously with Radio Farda, working beneath Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and overseen by the US Company for World Media.
In February he reported that his relations had been detained. Valizadeh recommended this was an try and strain him to return to Iran. Whereas, in August, he posted two messages hinting that he had returned to Iran, regardless of Radio Farda being seen as hostile by Iran’s theocratic authorities.
Part of his message learn, “I arrived in Tehran on March 6, 2024. Earlier than that, I had unfinished negotiations with the (Revolutionary Guard’s) intelligence division…Ultimately I got here again to my nation after 13 years with none safety assure, even a verbal one.”
There have been rumors for weeks that Valizadeh was detained by the Iranian authorities. The Human Rights Activists Information Company, which tracks instances in Iran, stated the journalist was held when he arrived within the nation however was later launched.
The information company additionally reported that he was arrested once more and despatched to Evin jail. He’ll now face trial in Iran’s Revolutionary Court docket.
When requested about Valizadeh, the State Division informed the AP that it was “conscious of stories that this twin US-Iranian citizen has been arrested in Iran.” It added that, the division is in contact with Swiss companions to collect extra details about this case.
Iran has not admitted to detaining Valizadeh. Iran’s mission to the United Nations didn’t reply to a information company’s request for remark.
Because the 1979 US Embassy disaster, Iran has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips. In September 2023, 5 People held in Iran for years had been freed. In change, 5 Iranians in US custody had been launched, and $6 billion in frozen Iranian belongings had been launched by South Korea.
