UN Petition Challenges Iran’s Detention of U.S.–Iranian Journalist Reza Valizadeh as Arbitrary
Valizadeh’s lawyers have petitioned the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, arguing Iran is unlawfully holding Abdolreza “Reza” Valizadeh — a dual U.S.–Iranian journalist who became a U.S. citizen in 2022 while working for Radio Farda — after his arrest by the IRGC on Sept. 22, 2024; he is being held in solitary at Evin Prison and was formally designated “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. State Department in May 2025. Valizadeh, a longtime critic of the Iranian regime who returned to Iran in spring 2024 to care for aging parents amid what his family says were misleading assurances that may have involved a former colleague with IRGC ties, was detained amid a nationwide protest crackdown, near‑total internet blackout and heightened U.S.–Iran tensions that have raised fears detainees could be used as leverage.
📌 Key Facts
- Abdolreza "Reza" Valizadeh is a dual U.S.–Iranian journalist, a U.S. citizen since 2022 through his work for Radio Farda, and a longtime critic of the Iranian regime.
- He was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sept. 22, 2024, and is being held in solitary confinement in Evin Prison.
- Valizadeh returned to Iran in spring 2024 for the first time in 15 years to care for aging parents after what he believed were assurances of safe passage; his family says the trip may have been a trap possibly involving a former colleague with IRGC ties.
- His counsel has filed a formal petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention arguing that Iran is unlawfully detaining him.
- The U.S. State Department formally designated Valizadeh as "wrongfully detained" in May 2025 and placed his case under the hostage affairs office.
- A senior U.S. administration official said the Trump administration is closely monitoring his case and that the president wants all wrongfully detained Americans returned home.
- Reporters place his detention against a backdrop of thousands of reported protester deaths in Iran, a near-total internet blackout, and U.S. carrier movements and strike threats — circumstances that heighten concern detainees may be used as leverage.
- CBS reports Valizadeh is one of at least four Iranian‑Americans currently held in Iran, highlighting the broader scale of the hostage/detention issue.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS characterizes Valizadeh as one of at least four Iranian‑Americans currently held in Iran, underscoring the scale of the hostage issue.
- The segment emphasizes mounting concern in Washington over his case and situates his detention within broader U.S.–Iran tensions and Iran’s protest crackdown.
- It reinforces that Valizadeh is a longtime critic of the Iranian regime and that he was arrested by the IRGC in September 2024, keeping the timeline and risk profile in public view.
- Confirms that Abdolreza 'Reza' Valizadeh, a dual U.S.–Iranian journalist and U.S. citizen since 2022 via his work for Radio Farda, was arrested by the IRGC on Sept. 22, 2024 and is being held in solitary confinement in Evin Prison.
- Reports that his counsel has filed a formal petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention arguing Iran is unlawfully detaining him.
- Confirms the State Department formally designated Valizadeh 'wrongfully detained' in May 2025, placing his case under the hostage affairs office.
- Adds that he returned to Iran for the first time in 15 years in spring 2024 to care for aging parents after what he believed were assurances of safe passage, which his family now views as a trap possibly involving a former colleague with IRGC ties.
- Quotes a senior administration official saying the Trump administration is closely monitoring his case and that the president wants all wrongfully detained Americans returned home.
- Sets his case explicitly against the backdrop of thousands of reported protester deaths, a near-total internet blackout in Iran, and U.S. carrier movements and strike threats, heightening concern that detainees may be used as leverage.