Updated · Committee to Protect Journalists · Jun 5
Reza Valizadeh Reports Abuse, Denied Medical Care in Iran Prison as 10-Year Sentence Fuels Alarm
Updated
Updated · Committee to Protect Journalists · Jun 5
Reza Valizadeh Reports Abuse, Denied Medical Care in Iran Prison as 10-Year Sentence Fuels Alarm
3 articles · Updated · Committee to Protect Journalists · Jun 5
Summary
A voice memo aired by CBS News quotes jailed Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh saying detainees in Tehran’s Evin Prison face “physical pressure,” “mental torture,” and no real medical care.
The account has sharpened concern over Valizadeh’s worsening health, with the Committee to Protect Journalists calling it a cry for help and urging U.S. officials to press for his release and welfare.
Valizadeh, a former Radio Farda journalist, has been imprisoned since September 2024 on charges tied to his reporting and was later sentenced to 10 years.
Family concerns had already mounted after his transfer following June 2025 Israeli strikes on Evin, when unsanitary conditions, polluted water, contaminated food and poor treatment reportedly worsened his chronic asthma and other ailments.
Does separating detainee talks from nuclear deals risk abandoning American prisoners in Iran?
Why did the U.S. free Iranian sailors without securing an exchange for its own citizens?
How can U.S. diplomacy succeed when military strikes endanger the prisoners it seeks to free?
At Least 6 Americans Held in Iran: Humanitarian Crisis Overlooked in 2026 U.S.-Iran Truce Negotiations
Overview
In June 2026, a humanitarian crisis unfolded in Iran’s Evin Prison as Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh pleaded for urgent medical help for himself and other American detainees. His call highlighted severe overcrowding and shortages of basic necessities in the prison, while also exposing that the welfare of these detainees was left out of ongoing U.S.-Iran truce talks. Rights groups condemned the harsh conditions, noting that thousands had been arbitrarily detained since protests erupted in late 2025. Valizadeh’s message underscored the uncertainty and neglect faced by Americans held in Iran, raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being.