A bipartisan group of US senators has called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to escalate diplomatic pressure on Iran to secure the release of Reza Valizadeh, an American journalist serving a 10-year prison sentence at Tehran's Evin Prison. The appeal, made in a joint letter, comes amid growing concerns over Valizadeh's deteriorating health and what lawmakers describe as Iran's deliberate use of detained Americans as political leverage.

Who Is Reza Valizadeh

Reza Valizadeh is a US citizen and former journalist with Radio Farda, the Persian-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — a broadcaster funded by the US Congress. He worked for Radio Farda from 2012 to 2022, reporting on corruption and political repression inside Iran. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrested him in September 2024; he was subsequently charged with 'collaborating' with the United States — a charge the senators say stemmed directly from his US citizenship and journalistic work.

Key Developments in the Case

Senators Brian Schatz (Democrat, Hawaii) and Marsha Blackburn (Republican, Tennessee) led the appeal. Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Republican Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania also signed the letter. Notably, Secretary Rubio formally recognised Valizadeh as 'wrongfully detained' in May 2025 — a designation that carries specific diplomatic obligations under US law.

The senators further noted that the United States has designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention under Executive Order 14348, adding a formal legal framework to the diplomatic pressure.

Concerns Over Health and Prison Conditions

Valizadeh is reportedly being held in Evin Prison, which international human rights organisations have long criticised for inhumane conditions, restricted legal access, and, according to the senators' letter, arbitrary executions of political detainees. The lawmakers warned that his health has 'significantly deteriorated' in custody and that he has been denied basic medical care, including an inhaler required to treat his asthma.

'His health has significantly deteriorated in custody, where he has consistently been denied medical care, including the inhaler he needs to treat his asthma,' the letter stated. The senators warned that 'each additional day in detention posed a danger to Valizadeh's life.'

What the Senators Are Asking

'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 wrote. They accused Tehran of a documented history of targeting journalists and individuals with dual or foreign ties, describing the case as emblematic of Iran's broader hostage-taking pattern.

'As you know, Iran is not afraid to use American citizens as political pawns,' the letter said. Neither the State Department nor the Iranian government had responded publicly to the letter at the time of publication, and no details of any active negotiations were disclosed.

Broader Context

Evin Prison has long served as Iran's primary detention facility for political prisoners, journalists, and foreign or dual nationals. This comes amid persistent US-Iran tensions over sanctions, nuclear negotiations, and a string of wrongful detention cases that human rights advocates say Tehran uses as diplomatic chips. Valizadeh's case is the latest in a pattern that has drawn bipartisan condemnation from the US Congress.