A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prioritize the release of Reza Valizadeh, a 49-year-old American journalist imprisoned in Iran since September 2024. Valizadeh, suffering from deteriorating health and denied medical care at Evin Prison, was sentenced to ten years for collaborating with a hostile government. The appeal coincides with the September 2026 U.N. General Assembly amid ongoing tensions and a seven-month war between the U.S. and Iran.
Senate Appeal to Secretary Rubio
- ▪On September 21, 2026, a bipartisan group of United States senators sent a letter urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prioritize the release of imprisoned journalist Reza Valizadeh.
- ▪The bipartisan Senate appeal occurred as the Trump administration evaluated its strategy in a seven-month war with Iran, ahead of meetings at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026.
- ▪United States Senators Brian Schatz, Marsha Blackburn, Jacky Rosen, and Dave McCormick signed a September 21, 2026 letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling for the Trump administration to use all diplomatic channels to free Reza Valizadeh
Reza Valizadeh's Detention and Sentencing
- ▪Iranian authorities sentenced Reza Valizadeh to 10 years in prison for collaborating with a hostile government, a charge linked to Reza Valizadeh's work for Radio Farda.
- ▪Reza Valizadeh traveled to Tehran in early 2024 to visit aging parents before being detained by Iranian authorities in September 2024.
- ▪Reza Valizadeh, a 49-year-old U.S.-Iranian dual citizen and former Radio Farda journalist, has been imprisoned in Iran's Evin Prison since September 2024.
Deteriorating Health and Denied Medical Care
- ▪In June 2026 voice recordings from Evin Prison, Reza Valizadeh appealed to the United States government, stating that Reza Valizadeh and other detained Americans were denied adequate medical treatment.
- ▪Senators warned that Reza Valizadeh's health has significantly deteriorated at Tehran's Evin Prison, where Iranian authorities have repeatedly denied Reza Valizadeh medical care, including an asthma inhaler.
U.S. Government Designation and Response
- ▪Following the publication of a CBS News article on September 22, 2026, the United States Department of State issued a statement demanding that Iran immediately release Reza Valizadeh.
- ▪The United States Department of State formally designated Reza Valizadeh as wrongfully detained in May 2025.
Other Detained American Citizens in Iran
- ▪In July 2026, U.S.-Iranian dual citizen Dena Karari was released from Iran and returned to the United States after suffering a heart attack while detained on espionage allegations.
- ▪American citizen Kamran Hekmati was released from Evin Prison on September 5, 2026, but remains barred from leaving Iran under an exit ban.
Senate concerns
- ▪United States senators characterized the detention of Reza Valizadeh as part of a broader pattern by Tehran of using American citizens and dual nationals as political pawns.
- ▪United States senators warned that they are extremely concerned Iranian authorities could take sudden, arbitrary actions to endanger Reza Valizadeh's life.
Attorney's statements
- ▪Ryan Fayhee, the attorney representing Reza Valizadeh, stated that the September 2026 United Nations General Assembly presents an opportunity for Iran to demonstrate goodwill by releasing Reza Valizadeh.
- ▪Ryan Fayhee stated that releasing Reza Valizadeh could help break a cycle of mistrust that has made it unsafe for Iranian-Americans to visit Iran.
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