Schatz, Blackburn Lead Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling for Release of Wrongfully Detained American Journalist in Iran, Urge State Department to Step Up Efforts

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) today urged the U.S. Department of State to prioritize and step up efforts to bring wrongfully detained American journalist Reza Valizadeh home. Valizadeh, a U.S. citizen and former broadcast journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Persian language service Radio Farda, was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in September 2024 and was charged and sentenced, without legal due process, for "collaborating" with the United States. The vague charge, often used by the Iranian regime to target those who are critical of the government, stems from Valizadeh's work reporting on the Iranian regime's corruption and repression.

In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the senators wrote, "As partners in the effort to secure Mr. Valizadeh's release, we ask that his freedom and welfare be an urgent priority through all available diplomatic channels with Iranian officials."

The senators continued, "Mr. Valizadeh is currently being held in Evin Prison, which is notorious for its inhumane conditions and arbitrary executions of political prisoners. His health has significantly deteriorated in custody, where he has consistently been denied medical care, including the inhaler he needs to treat his asthma. With every day of continued detention, Mr. Valizadeh's life is in danger. We are extremely concerned that Iranian authorities could take sudden, arbitrary actions to endanger his life."

In addition to Schatz and Blackburn, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.).

The full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write to draw your urgent attention to the case of Reza Valizadeh, a U.S. citizen who has been wrongfully detained in Iran since September 2024. Mr. Valizadeh is a former broadcast journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Persian language service Radio Farda, which is funded by Congress. In May 2025, you formally recognized Mr. Valizadeh as "wrongfully detained."

Mr. Valizadeh is serving an unjust ten-year sentence for "collaborating" with the United States. These charges stem from his U.S. citizenship and work for Radio Farda, where he reported from 2012 to 2022 on the Iranian regime's corruption and repression. You designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention, pursuant to the authority in Executive Order 14348. Mr. Valizadeh's case is part of Tehran's long history of targeting journalists and dual nationals.

Mr. Valizadeh is currently being held in Evin Prison, which is notorious for its inhumane conditions and arbitrary executions of political prisoners. His health has significantly deteriorated in custody, where he has consistently been denied medical care, including the inhaler he needs to treat his asthma. With every day of continued detention, Mr. Valizadeh's life is in danger. We are extremely concerned that Iranian authorities could take sudden, arbitrary actions to endanger his life. As you know, Iran is not afraid to use American citizens as political pawns.

As partners in the effort to secure Mr. Valizadeh's release, we ask that his freedom and welfare be an urgent priority through all available diplomatic channels with Iranian officials. We look forward to working with you to bring him home.

Sincerely,

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