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The former REL journalist and American-Iranian citizen is arrested in Tehran

2024-10-15 22:06:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The former REL journalist and American-Iranian citizen is arrested in Tehran

A former Radio Free Europe (REL) journalist who returned to Iran after many years abroad has been arrested in Tehran, a source told REL on October 15.

Reza Valizadeh, who holds dual Iranian and American citizenship, was arrested about three weeks ago and faces charges including collaborating with Persian-language media abroad, one of his relatives told REL.

Iranian officials have not yet commented on Valizadeh's arrest.

Valizadeh quit his job as a staff member of REL's Radio Farda in November 2022 and stayed abroad for a while.

In his last post on X on August 13, Valizadeh said he had traveled to Tehran on March 16.

He said talks "left half-baked" with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence agency, but ultimately returned to Iran after 14 years taking responsibility on his shoulders and "without any letter of trust, even verbal."

It is not clear under what circumstances he wrote this post.

Many Iranians with dual citizenship have been arrested by security agencies and charged with committing various crimes. Most of their properties have been confiscated or blocked, and in some cases, their family members inside Iran have faced pressure to force these people to return to Iran.

Iran is accused of pressuring foreign governments to meet its demands by illegally arresting or "taking hostage" foreign nationals, including those with dual citizenship./REL

 





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