Reza Valizadeh, Iranian-American Journalist Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

According to a ruling issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist and former reporter for Radio Farda, has been sentenced to 10 years of punitive imprisonment. Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, a lawyer, announced this news on his X account, stating: "Ten years of imprisonment, a ban on residence in Tehran and neighboring provinces, a ban on leaving the country, and membership in parties for two years are the penalties for Abdul Reza Valizadeh for working at Radio Farda." Aghasi also emphasized that "despite the completion of preliminary investigations and even the issuance of a preliminary ruling, he is still being denied transfer to the general ward and the right to meet freely." Reza Valizadeh, a former Radio Farda journalist, left the media about two years ago in 1401. Shortly after, he announced on his X account that he returned to Iran on 16 Esfand 1402, writing: "I entered Tehran on 16 Esfand 1402. Before that, I had incomplete negotiations with the IRGC Intelligence Organization. Ultimately, I returned to my country after 14 years at my own responsibility and without even a verbal guarantee." According to information received by VOA, Mr. Valizadeh was under the supervision of security agencies and subjected to continuous interrogations from the moment he entered Iran until his arrest. According to relatives of Reza Valizadeh, he was arrested on 1 Mehr 1403 due to his non-cooperation with the IRGC Intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence and his refusal to express remorse for his journalistic activities. The family of this dual-national prisoner has not yet had the right to visit him. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department previously told VOA: "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 detains American citizens and citizens of other countries for political purposes, calling this action "cruel and contrary to international law." The Iranian government labels many Persian-language media outlets abroad, including VOA and Radio Farda, as "hostile" entities and considers their journalists as security suspects. Skyler Thompson, Deputy Director of the Human Rights Activists in Washington, stated in a message to VOA 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."