Advocates are increasingly worried about the safety of at least four American nationals imprisoned in Iran, as intense bombing continues across the country. Journalist Abdolreza "Reza" Valizadeh and businessman Kamran Hekmati were both held in Tehran's Evin Prison before recent U.S.-Israeli strikes commenced. Their current whereabouts and conditions are unknown.
Evin Prison has been targeted previously, and the ongoing military operations pose a significant threat. Lawyers representing the detained Americans express profound helplessness due to the inability to communicate or ascertain their status. Valizadeh, a U.S. citizen and former Radio Farda journalist, was detained in 2024 and sentenced to 10 years for "collaborating with a hostile government." Hekmati, an Iranian-born U.S. resident, faces charges including visiting Israel within a decade of entering Iran and meeting with Mossad agents.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Secretary of State designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention, highlighting decades of the regime using foreign nationals as political leverage. While military actions have interrupted potential negotiations, the release of these American citizens is seen by some as a potential diplomatic off-ramp for the escalating conflict.