Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist imprisoned in Tehran's Evin Prison, has called on the United States government to help secure medical care for himself and other American detainees held in Iran.
In a message obtained by CBS News, Valizadeh stated: “Even if treatment for our illnesses is considered too much to ask, at the very least Iranian authorities should be urged to reduce the physical pressure and psychological torture we endure in captivity—not all of it, but at least some of it.”
The message was transmitted from inside Iran after authorities partially eased internet restrictions last week.
Since the beginning of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against the Iranian regime, internet access in the country had been largely cut off, severely limiting communication between Valizadeh and his supporters.
In the two-minute recording, Valizadeh referred to three other American citizens who are reportedly being held in Evin Prison.
He said that all four detainees suffer from various medical conditions and are being denied adequate healthcare. CBS News noted that it was unable to independently verify details concerning the other prisoners mentioned in the message.
Valizadeh was arrested by the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on September 22, 2024, and was later sentenced to ten years in prison and two years of internal exile.
He has repeatedly protested prison conditions, including alleged violations of regulations regarding minimum living space and basic prisoner rights.
Ryan Fayhee, Valizadeh’s attorney, told CBS News that his client has experienced breathing difficulties since fires caused by an Israeli airstrike on Evin Prison in June 2025.
He also reportedly suffers from chronic back pain and serious dental problems.
