In a significant diplomatic concern, the Biden administration has publicly condemned Iran for sentencing Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian American dual national, to ten years in prison.
This case stands out as the only known instance of a U.S. citizen being jailed in Iran since the rare prisoner swap that occurred in September 2023.
The State Department confirmed the troubling news in an email, prompted by inquiries from Voice of America (VOA). “We are aware of reports that dual Iranian-U.S. citizen journalist Reza Valizadeh has been sentenced to ten years in prison in Iran,” a spokesperson stated. “We strongly condemn this sentencing and call for his immediate release and the release of all political prisoners in Iran.”
Valizadeh’s situation came to light in October when reports surfaced regarding his detention in Iran shortly after the September prisoner exchange between the two nations.
A former journalist for Radio Farda, a sister network of VOA, Valizadeh had left the Persian-language service in 2022. His sentencing not only highlights concerns regarding the treatment of dual nationals in Iran but also reflects the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding U.S.-Iran relations.
