Exclusive: The U.S. is Examining the Case of a Dual National Imprisoned in Iran

The Biden administration is investigating the recent detention of an Iranian-American by the Islamic Republic. Reza Valizadeh is the only American citizen whose arrest has been publicly reported since the prisoner exchange between the Islamic Republic and the U.S. in September 2023. In response to inquiries, U.S. State Department spokesperson Michael Lippin stated that they are "aware of reports regarding the detention of an Iranian-American citizen in Iran." Reza Valizadeh, a former journalist for Radio Farda, had left the network in 2022. He wrote in a post on X: "I entered Tehran on March 7, 2024. Prior to that, I had incomplete negotiations with the IRGC intelligence organization. Ultimately, I returned to my country after 14 years at my own risk and without even a verbal guarantee." The Islamic Republic views Radio Farda, Voice of America, and many other Persian-language media outlets abroad as "hostile" entities because they draw attention to human rights violations and public opposition against them. The U.S. State Department spokesperson said, "We are working with our Swiss partners, who act as the U.S. interests protector in Iran, to gather more information about this case." The spokesperson emphasized that the Islamic Republic unjustly imprisons American citizens and citizens of other countries for political purposes, calling this action "cruel and contrary to international law." An informed source inside Iran told the Persian section of Voice of America that Mr. Valizadeh is facing charges of "collaborating with Persian-language media abroad." The Human Rights Activists in Iran and the Committee to Protect Journalists based in the U.S. reported that Valizadeh has been in Evin prison without access to a lawyer since his arrest. The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the United Nations confirmed that they received Voice of America's request for comment on Valizadeh's case last week but did not respond. Skyler Thompson, deputy director of the Human Rights Activists organization based in Washington, told Voice of America that the U.S. State Department "must use all available diplomatic channels to investigate Valizadeh's detention and ensure his immediate and unhindered access to legal counsel." Mr. Valizadeh also mentioned in a post on X 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 have gone to our neighbor and inquired about my mother's condition to assess before potentially entering the house. They have pressured my family to convince me to return." Meanwhile, Massoud Pezeshkian, the head of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic, has tried to convince Iranians living abroad that they should not fear returning. Pezeshkian told the state news agency ISNA, "We must assure them that if they return to Iran, we will not file a case against them, we will not harass them, and we will not prevent their departure." Jason Brodsky, head of policy at the United Against a Nuclear Iran organization, told Voice of America that Valizadeh's detention should serve as a warning for dual nationals that they cannot trust the guarantees of the Islamic Republic. Brodsky stated, "Over the years, there have been cases where Iranians abroad have obtained entry permission from one government agency in Iran, and then a rival agency has arrested and taken that person hostage." Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian political scientist who was detained by the Islamic Republic from 2018 to 2020 on charges deemed baseless by Western countries, told Voice of America: "It seems that Valizadeh has been wrongfully detained. His journalism career has certainly made him a target for the IRGC." In a written response to Voice of America, she noted: "His referral to the Salavati Revolutionary Court is also noteworthy as this judge handles political cases, including the illegal detention of foreign and dual nationals." Designating his detention as "illegal detention" allows the U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs to collaborate with a coalition of government and private organizations for the release of that prisoner. Ms. Moore-Gilbert stated that any of Reza Valizadeh's family members living abroad should immediately request the U.S. Secretary of State to designate his case as "illegal detention," and Valizadeh's recent job as a journalist should make this process relatively straightforward compared to other "relatively simple" cases. The U.S. State Department spokesperson told Voice of America that they are "continuously" monitoring conditions related to the detention of American citizens abroad to confirm signs that may place them in the category of illegal detentions. In December 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan measure prohibiting the Islamic Republic from accessing $6 billion previously released by the U.S. in a dual national prisoner exchange. This action was taken in response to the "Islamic Republic's role in the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel." Jason Brodsky stated that Valizadeh's detention raises the question of whether the Islamic Republic is holding him hostage for a deal involving asset transfers in Qatar or a larger transaction.