Iran sentences Iranian-American journalist to 10 years in prison

Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, who previously worked for a US government-funded broadcaster, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Valizadeh has also been banned from residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, prohibited from leaving the country, and barred from political party membership for two years, defense attorney Mohammad Hossein Aghasi tweeted on Friday.

Valizadeh worked for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Persian Service, known as Radio Farda, for 10 years before leaving the organization in November 2022. In March, after 14 years abroad, he returned to Iran to visit his family, according to a tweet he posted. Despite receiving assurances from security officials over the phone that he would not face any problems, authorities arrested him in September.

His two court sessions, held in November, proceeded without a prosecution representative, with the judge taking on that role, according to Radio Farda.

People close to the journalist say he walked into a "security trap" after receiving informal assurances from Iranian security officials that he would not face legal issues upon returning to Iran.

According to HRANA, Valizadeh remains in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, a section run by the Ministry of Intelligence, where he lacks access to basic amenities and visitation rights.

Valizadeh’s sentence was communicated to him and his lawyer only after a delay. HRANA rights group also reported that he has not been moved to the prison’s public ward, even though investigations have concluded.

International organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have criticized Valizadeh’s detention. The US State Department called his arrest unjust and described it as a violation of international law.

"Iran routinely imprisons U.S. citizens and other countries' citizens unjustly for political purposes. This practice is cruel and contrary to international law," a State Department spokesperson said last month.

Before his emigration, Valizadeh was briefly detained in 2007 in Iran. His professional history includes working with outlets such as Radio France, Voice of America, Radio Farda, and Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.