Arrest of Reza Valizadeh, Former Radio Farda Journalist, After Returning to Iran

Reza Valizadeh, a dual-national journalist who returned to Iran in Esfand 1402, has been detained in Tehran for three weeks. An informed source in Iran confirmed to Voice of America that he faces charges of 'collaboration with foreign Persian-language media.' So far, there is no additional information about the details of the arresting agency and Valizadeh's place of detention, but it seems that while Masoud Pezeshkian and his team were discussing engagement with Iranians abroad and facilitating their travel to the country in the U.S., this journalist was imprisoned or on the verge of arrest in Iran. Following the publication of information about Valizadeh's arrest on social media platform X, Radio Farda confirmed on Tuesday, October 24, that this journalist, who was an employee of Radio Farda until Aban 1401, has been detained in Tehran for 'about three weeks.' Valizadeh holds dual Iranian-American citizenship and had resided outside Iran for some time after leaving Radio Farda. In August 1403, he wrote on his X account that he 'entered Tehran on Esfand 16, 1402' and had previously had 'unfinished negotiations with the IRGC Intelligence Organization,' but ultimately returned to Iran 'at his own responsibility' and even without receiving a 'verbal guarantee after 14 years.' Additionally, Valizadeh reported on X last winter after returning to Iran that his 'older brother' was summoned to 'the Ministry of Intelligence in Tehran' and that 'his father and even distant and close relatives' were summoned 'to the Intelligence Office in Kurdistan,' stating: 'They went to our neighbor's house and inquired about my mother's condition to assess before potentially entering the house. They pressured my family to convince me to return.' On Sunday, journalist Najat Bahrami reported on social media X about Valizadeh's arrest, describing him as 'another hostage' of the Islamic Republic who has been in solitary confinement in Evin Prison for nearly a month, and his case is set to be referred to the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati next week. According to him, Valizadeh 'was assured by a call from an old friend in early fall 1402 that he would not face problems for a short return to Iran to visit his elderly parents,' but upon entering Iran, 'he was summoned by both the IRGC and the Ministry of Intelligence.' Meanwhile, the organization 'Defending the Right to Free Information' expressed deep concern about Valizadeh's fate, noting that 'there is no information on the reasons for Valizadeh's return to Iran,' citing the Islamic Republic's history of extrajudicial actions against journalists and Iranian media. This organization called on the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic to provide information regarding 'the ambiguities surrounding Valizadeh's fate and to facilitate his immediate release if this dual-national citizen is detained.' Previously, Abram Paley, the U.S. State Department's special representative for Iran, has repeatedly warned American citizens to avoid traveling to Iran. Many political experts believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran uses baseless accusations to detain foreign citizens, especially dual nationals, and uses them as political bargaining chips, effectively taking these citizens hostage.