Iran detains American journalist amid rising tensions
People walk along a busy street in Tehran on October 26, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, who previously worked for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster, has reportedly been detained in Iran for several months, raising tensions as Tehran threatens retaliation following an Israeli attack, the Associated Press reported.
The U.S. Department of State confirmed Valizadeh’s imprisonment as Iran marked the 45th anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover and hostage crisis on Sunday.
The development follows a warning from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who threatened both Israel and the U.S. with “a crushing response” the day before, coinciding with the deployment of long-range B-52 bombers to the Middle East.
Valizadeh worked for Radio Farda, part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. In February, he posted on X, formerly Twitter, that family members had been detained to pressure him to return to Iran.
In August, he suggested in two posts that he had returned to Iran, despite Radio Farda being viewed as a hostile outlet by Iran’s theocracy.
Iran has not acknowledged Valizadeh’s detention. The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
