Bipartisan Senators Urge Immediate Release of American Journalist Detained in Iran
Bipartisan senators demand urgent action for American journalist held in Iran, citing health risks and political detention.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, United States — A coalition of bipartisan U.S. senators has called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to elevate the release of an American journalist imprisoned in Iran as a top priority, expressing grave concerns over his deteriorating health and potential life-threatening risks.
The lawmakers emphasized that every day of continued imprisonment puts the journalist’s life in jeopardy, warning that Iranian authorities could take sudden actions to endanger him. The senatorial group highlighted the urgent need for diplomatic intervention to secure his release and ensure his well-being.
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The journalist, Reza Valizadeh, 49, has been incarcerated in Tehran since September 2024 after returning to the city to visit his elderly parents. He was sentenced to 10 years for alleged collaboration with a hostile government, linked to his work with Radio Farda and ties to the United States. The State Department designated him as wrongfully detained in May 2025. His attorney, Ryan Fayhee, urged immediate action, stating that his release would signal goodwill and help ease tensions between the two nations.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)