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The US Department of State has expressed serious concern over the arrest of Iranian journalist Reza Valizadeh, who previously worked for the Persian edition of Radio Liberty. The journalist was detained in Iran, where he arrived in March this year after the authorities arrested one of his relatives in an attempt to lure him to the country, Time Ukraine Israel reports, citing Newsru.co.il.
According to the State Department, Valizadeh was an active user of social media and frequently criticised the actions of the Iranian government. He last addressed the public in August, reporting on his unsuccessful attempts to obtain security guarantees from a representative of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Valizadeh is currently being held in Evin Prison, known for its harsh regime. The charges against him have not been disclosed, but the case has been transferred to the Revolutionary Court, which may indicate the political nature of the charges. “Radio Liberty, where Valizadeh worked until 2022, is considered by the ayatollahs to be a hostile media outlet.
