US says Iranian-American held in Iran as tensions high following Israeli attack on country

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian-American journalist who erstwhile worked for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster is believed to beryllium detained by Iran for months now, authorities said Sunday, further raising nan stakes arsenic Tehran threatens to retaliate complete an Israeli onslaught connected nan country.

The imprisonment of Reza Valizadeh, acknowledged to The Associated Press by nan U.S. State Department, came arsenic Iran marked nan 45th day of nan American Embassy takeover and hostage situation connected Sunday. It besides followed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatening some Israel and nan U.S. nan time earlier pinch “a crushing response” arsenic long-range B-52 bombers reached nan Middle East successful an effort to deter Tehran.

Valizadeh had worked for Radio Farda, an outlet nether Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that’s overseen by nan U.S. Agency for Global Media. In February, he wrote connected nan societal level X that his family members had been detained successful an effort to spot him return to Iran.

In August, Valizadeh apparently posted 2 messages suggesting he had returned to Iran contempt Radio Farda being viewed by Iran’s theocracy arsenic a dispute outlet.

“I arrived successful Tehran connected March 6, 2024. Before that, I had unfinished negotiations pinch nan (Revolutionary Guard’s) intelligence department,” nan connection publication successful part. “Eventually I came backmost to my state aft 13 years without immoderate information guarantee, moreover a verbal one.”

Valizadeh added nan sanction of a man who he claimed belonged to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry. The AP could not verify if nan personification worked for nan ministry.

Rumors person been circulating for weeks that Valizadeh had been detained. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, which monitors cases successful Iran, said that he had been detained connected presence to nan state earlier this year, but later released.

He was past rearrested and sent to Evin prison, wherever he now faces a lawsuit successful Iran’s Revolutionary Court, which routinely holds closed-door hearings successful which defendants look concealed evidence, nan agency reported. Valizadeh had faced apprehension successful 2007 arsenic well, it said.

The State Department told nan AP that it was “aware of reports that this dual U.S.-Iranian national has been arrested successful Iran” erstwhile asked astir Valizadeh.

“We are moving pinch our Swiss partners who service arsenic nan protecting powerfulness for nan United States successful Iran to stitchery much accusation astir this case,” nan State Department said. “Iran routinely imprisons U.S. citizens and different countries’ citizens unjustly for governmental purposes. This believe is sadistic and contrary to world law.”

Iran has not acknowledged detaining Valizadeh. Iran’s ngo to nan United Nations did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The Voice of America, different U.S. government-funded media outlet overseen by nan Agency for Global Media, first reported nan State Department was acknowledging Valizadeh’s detention successful Iran.

Since nan 1979 U.S. Embassy crisis, which saw dozens of hostages released aft 444 days successful captivity, Iran has utilized prisoners pinch Western ties arsenic bargaining chips successful negotiations pinch nan world. In September 2023, five Americans detained for years successful Iran were freed successful exchange for 5 Iranians successful U.S. custody and for $6 cardinal successful stiff Iranian assets to beryllium released by South Korea.

Valizadeh is nan first American known to beryllium detained by Iran successful nan clip since.