A group of bipartisan U.S. senators has appealed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prioritize the release of Reza Valizadeh, an American journalist imprisoned in Iran. The senators emphasize the urgency, citing Valizadeh’s declining health and potential life risks.

In their letter, Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), and Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania) urge the Trump administration to leverage all diplomatic resources for Valizadeh’s release. The journalist, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, has been detained since September 2024 after traveling to Tehran to visit family. He faces a 10-year sentence for allegedly working with a hostile government.

The State Department classified Valizadeh’s detention as wrongful in May 2025. Reports indicate his health has deteriorated at Tehran’s Evin Prison. He has been denied necessary medical care, including asthma treatment. This appeal follows recent developments, including the release of another wrongfully detained American, Kamran Hekmati, from Evin Prison.

Valizadeh has previously criticized conditions at Evin via recordings. He accused the Iranian government of failing to provide adequate medical care to detained Americans. Attorney Ryan Fayhee advocates for Valizadeh’s immediate release, arguing it could signal goodwill during the U.N. General Assembly meetings.

The senators highlight a pattern of Iran targeting journalists and dual nationals. They urge the Trump administration to employ all diplomatic channels to secure Valizadeh’s release, stressing the risk of Americans being used as political tools.

The situation unfolds amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, with diplomatic discussions anticipated at the U.N. General Assembly.