DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An Iranian-American journalist who as soon as labored for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster is assumed to had been detained via Iran for months now, government stated Sunday, additional elevating the stakes as Tehran threatens to retaliate over an Israeli assault at the nation. The imprisonment of Reza Valizadeh, stated to The Related Press via the U.S. State Division, got here as Iran marked the forty fifth anniversary of the American Embassy takeover and hostage disaster on Sunday. It additionally adopted Iran’s Ideally suited Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatening each Israel and the U.S. the day ahead of with “a crushing reaction” as long-range B-52 bombers reached the Heart East in an try to deter Tehran.Valizadeh had labored for Radio Farda, an outlet below Radio Unfastened Europe/Radio Liberty that is overseen via the U.S. Company for International Media. In February, he wrote at the social platform X that his members of the family have been detained as a way to see him go back to Iran.In August, Valizadeh it appears posted two messages suggesting he had returned to Iran in spite of Radio Farda being considered via Iran’s theocracy as a adverse outlet. “I arrived in Tehran on March 6, 2024. Ahead of that, I had unfinished negotiations with the (Modern Guard’s) intelligence division,” the message learn partially. “Ultimately I got here again to my nation after 13 years with none safety ensure, even a verbal one.”Valizadeh added the title of a person who he claimed belonged to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry. The AP may no longer check if the individual labored for the ministry. Rumors had been circulating for weeks that Valizadeh have been detained. The Human Rights Activists Information Company, which displays circumstances in Iran, stated that he have been detained on arrival to the rustic previous this 12 months, however later launched. He used to be then rearrested and despatched to Evin jail, the place he now faces a case in Iran’s Modern Courtroom, which mechanically holds closed-door hearings during which defendants face secret proof, the company reported. Valizadeh had confronted arrest in 2007 as smartly, it stated.The State Division informed the AP that it used to be “conscious about experiences that this twin U.S.-Iranian citizen has been arrested in Iran” when requested about Valizadeh.“We’re running with our Swiss companions who function the protective energy for the US in Iran to collect extra details about this situation,” the State Division stated. “Iran mechanically imprisons U.S. voters and different international locations’ voters unjustly for political functions. This tradition is merciless and opposite to global legislation.”Iran has no longer stated detaining Valizadeh. Iran’s challenge to the United Countries didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The Voice of The united states, some other U.S. government-funded media outlet overseen via the Company for International Media, first reported the State Division used to be acknowledging Valizadeh’s detention in Iran. Because the 1979 U.S. Embassy disaster, which noticed dozens of hostages launched after 444 days in captivity, Iran has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations with the sector. In September 2023, 5 American citizens detained for years in Iran have been freed in alternate for 5 Iranians in U.S. custody and for $6 billion in frozen Iranian property to be launched via South Korea. Valizadeh is the primary American identified to be detained via Iran within the time since. In the meantime, Iranian state tv aired pictures Sunday of various towns around the nation marking the anniversary of the embassy takeover.Gen. Hossein Salami, the pinnacle of the Guard, additionally spoke in Tehran, the place he repeated a pledge made the day ahead of via Khamenei.“The resistance entrance and Iran will equip itself with no matter essential to confront and defeat the enemy,” he stated, regarding the militant teams like Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah subsidized via Tehran.In Tehran, 1000’s on the gate of the previous U.S. Embassy chanted “Demise to The united states” and “Demise to Israel.” Some burned flags of the international locations and effigies of Israeli High Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Additionally they carried photographs of killed best figures of Iran’s allied militant teams together with Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Palestinian Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. The gang within the state-organized rallies chanted they have been in a position to shield the Palestinians.___Associated Press author Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this file.
