Detained U.S. Journalist Describes Worsening Conditions Inside Iran's Evin Prison
U.S. citizen and journalist Reza Valizadeh released an audio update from inside Iran's Evin Prison during the week of August 7, 2026, describing worsening conditions and widespread medical neglect.[1]
In the recording, Valizadeh said prisoners have been denied access to the prison library and sports facilities for more than a year and that medical care is almost non-existent.[1] He said medicines families supplied were stolen by staff and that a fellow inmate with tuberculosis symptoms lived among other prisoners for about 10 months before being hospitalized, raising concerns about disease spread.[1]
Valizadeh said Iranian authorities have barred his family from visiting him for five months, which he described as punishment.[1]
CBS News also reported that U.S. citizen Kamran Hekmati was ordered back to prison after less than 30 days of medical leave and could not obtain chemotherapy for a suspected recurring cancer.[1] The State Department considers both men wrongfully detained.[1] A June 2026 statement from the Trump administration said it is working to secure their release, though officials have not publicly confirmed raising these specific cases in talks with Iran.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- CBS News received a new audio recording from U.S. citizen Reza Valizadeh from inside Evin Prison during the week of August 7, 2026.
- Valizadeh says prisoners have been denied access to Evin's library and sports facilities for more than a year and describes medical care as almost non-existent, with family-supplied medicines allegedly stolen by staff.
- He reports a fellow inmate with tuberculosis symptoms lived among other prisoners for about 10 months before being hospitalized, raising concerns about disease spread.
- Valizadeh says Iranian authorities have barred his family from visiting for five months, which he views as punishment.
- The article also reports that U.S. citizen Kamran Hekmati was ordered back to prison after less than 30 days of medical leave and was unable to obtain chemotherapy for a suspected recurring cancer.
- The State Department considers both Valizadeh and Hekmati wrongfully detained; a June 2026 Trump administration statement said it is working to secure their release, but the administration has not publicly confirmed raising their specific cases in Iran talks.
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