US Says Iranian-American Held in Iran as Tensions High Following Israeli Attack on Country

Dubai: An Iranian-American journalist who once worked for a US government-funded broadcaster is believed to have been detained by Iran for months w, authorities said Sunday, furr raising stakes as Tehran threatens to retaliate over an Israeli attack on country.

imprisonment of Reza Valizadeh, ackwledged to Associated Press by US State Department, came as Iran marked 45th anniversary of American Embassy takeover and host crisis on Sunday. It also followed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatening both Israel and US day before with "a crushing response” as long-range B-52 bombers reached Middle East in an attempt to deter Tehran.

Valizadeh had worked for Radio Farda, an outlet under Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that's overseen by US ncy for Global Media. In February, he wrote on social platform X that his family members had been detained in an effort to see him return to Iran.

In August, Valizadeh apparently posted two messs suggesting he had returned to Iran despite Radio Farda being viewed by Iran's ocracy as a hostile outlet.

“I arrived in Tehran on March 6, 2024. Before that, I had unfinished negotiations with (Revolutionary Guard's) intelligence department,” mess read in part. “Eventually I came back to my country after 13 years without any security guarantee, even a verbal one.” Valizadeh added name of a man who he claimed belonged to Iran's Intelligence Ministry. AP could t verify if person worked for ministry.

Rumours have been circulating for weeks that Valizadeh had been detained. Human Rights Activists News ncy, which monitors cases in Iran, said that he had been detained on arrival to country earlier this year, but later released.

He was n rearrested and sent to Evin prison, where he w faces a case in Iran's Revolutionary Court, which routinely holds closed-door hearings in which defendants face secret evidence, ncy reported. Valizadeh had faced arrest in 2007 as well, it said.

State Department told AP that it was “aware of reports that this dual US-Iranian citizen has been arrested in Iran" when asked about Valizadeh.

“We are working with our Swiss partners who serve as protecting power for United States in Iran to gar more information about this case,” State Department said. “Iran routinely imprisons US citizens and or countries' citizens unjustly for political purposes. This practice is cruel and contrary to international law.” Iran has t ackwledged detaining Valizadeh. Iran's mission to United Nations did t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Voice of America, ar US government-funded media outlet overseen by ncy for Global Media, first reported State Department was ackwledging Valizadeh's detention in Iran.

Since 1979 US Embassy crisis, which saw dozens of hosts released after 444 days in captivity, Iran has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations with world. In September 2023, five Americans detained for years in Iran were freed in exchange for five Iranians in US custody and for $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets to be released by South Korea.

Valizadeh is first American kwn to be detained by Iran in time since.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television aired foot Sunday of different cities across country marking anniversary of embassy takeover.

Gen. Hossein Salami, head of Guard, also spoke in Tehran, where he repeated a pledge made day before by Khamenei.

“ resistance front and Iran will equip itself with whatever necessary to confront and defeat enemy,” he said, referring to militant groups like Hamas and Leban's Hezbollah backed by Tehran.

In Tehran, thousands at gate of former US Embassy chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”. Some burned flags of countries and effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .

y also carried ims of killed top figures of Iran's allied militant groups including Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Palestinian Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. crowd in state-organised rallies chanted y were ready to defend Palestinians.