DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An Iranian-American journalist who as soon as labored for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster is believed to be detained by Iran for months now, authorities mentioned Sunday, additional elevating the stakes as Tehran threatens to retaliate over an Israeli assault on the nation.
The imprisonment of Reza Valizadeh, acknowledged to The Related Press by the U.S. State Division, got here as Iran marked the forty fifth anniversary of the American Embassy takeover and hostage disaster on Sunday. It additionally adopted Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatening each Israel and the U.S. the day earlier than with “a crushing response” as long-range B-52 bombers reached the Center East in an try to discourage Tehran.
Valizadeh had labored for Radio Farda, an outlet underneath Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that is overseen by the U.S. Company for World Media. In February, he wrote on the social platform X that his relations had been detained in an effort to see him return to Iran.
In August, Valizadeh apparently posted two messages suggesting he had returned to Iran regardless of Radio Farda being seen by Iran’s theocracy as a hostile outlet.
“I arrived in Tehran on March 6, 2024. Earlier than that, I had unfinished negotiations with the (Revolutionary Guard’s) intelligence division,” the message learn partially. “Ultimately I got here again to my nation after 13 years with none safety assure, even a verbal one.”
Valizadeh added the identify of a person who he claimed belonged to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry. The AP couldn’t confirm if the individual labored for the ministry.
Rumors have been circulating for weeks that Valizadeh had been detained. The Human Rights Activists Information Company, which displays circumstances in Iran, mentioned that he had been detained on arrival to the nation earlier this 12 months, however later launched.
He was then rearrested and despatched to Evin jail, the place he now faces a case in Iran’s Revolutionary Court docket, which routinely holds closed-door hearings by which defendants face secret proof, the company reported. Valizadeh had confronted arrest in 2007 as nicely, it mentioned.
The State Division advised the AP that it was “conscious of reviews that this twin U.S.-Iranian citizen has been arrested in Iran” when requested about Valizadeh.
“We’re working with our Swiss companions who function the protective energy for the US in Iran to collect extra details about this case,” the State Division mentioned. “Iran routinely imprisons U.S. residents and different international locations’ residents unjustly for political functions. This observe is merciless and opposite to worldwide regulation.”
Iran has not acknowledged detaining Valizadeh. Iran’s mission to the United Nations didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The Voice of America, one other U.S. government-funded media outlet overseen by the Company for World Media, first reported the State Division was acknowledging Valizadeh’s detention in Iran.
For the reason that 1979 U.S. Embassy disaster, which noticed dozens of hostages launched after 444 days in captivity, Iran has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations with the world. In September 2023, 5 Individuals detained for years in Iran had been freed in trade for 5 Iranians in U.S. custody and for $6 billion in frozen Iranian property to be launched by South Korea.
Valizadeh is the primary American identified to be detained by Iran within the time since.
