At least six Americans remain imprisoned in Iran despite a newly announced memorandum of understanding aimed at ending months of conflict between Washington and Tehran.
The 14-point agreement, which begins a 60-day period of negotiations toward a permanent settlement, does not contain any publicly disclosed provision addressing the fate of American citizens currently being held by the Iranian government.
The omission has drawn renewed attention to several U.S. citizens and dual nationals imprisoned inside Iran, including Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh.
Valizadeh was arrested in September 2024 while visiting family in Iran.
Iranian authorities later sentenced him to 10 years in prison on charges of “collaboration with a hostile government.”
Supporters and legal advocates have argued the charges are politically motivated.
Before his arrest, Valizadeh spent nearly three decades reporting on Iranian and Middle Eastern affairs.
He also worked for 10 years with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
According to his attorney, communication with Valizadeh has become increasingly difficult following internet restrictions imposed by Iranian authorities during periods of political unrest.
The attorney said Valizadeh has occasionally been able to send voice messages through encrypted communications platforms.
In one recent message, Valizadeh questioned why prisoner releases were not included in broader diplomatic discussions.
“The U.S. government could have demanded our exchange in return,” he said.
Valizadeh also called for improved conditions for prisoners being held in Iran.
“At least demand real medical services for us,” he said.
According to the attorney, Valizadeh has described deteriorating conditions inside Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.
The attorney said Valizadeh reported food shortages, prolonged isolation, denial of medical care and psychological pressure inside the prison.
Valizadeh also expressed concern for sources and contacts inside Iran after authorities reportedly sought access to passwords and electronic devices following his arrest.
His attorney said those concerns remain ongoing.
Valizadeh is not the only American currently believed to be imprisoned in Iran.
According to the attorney, Kamran Hekmati is also being held in Evin Prison.
Hekmati reportedly remains imprisoned over a visit to Israel more than a decade ago for his son’s bar mitzvah.
The attorney said Hekmati is suffering from bladder cancer.
Advocates also believe at least four other Americans remain detained in Iran.
Their identities have not been publicly disclosed because family members fear possible retaliation from Iranian authorities.
The detention of foreign nationals has long been a point of tension between the United States and Iran.
The issue dates back to the 1979 hostage crisis, when Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held more than 50 American diplomats and staff members captive for 444 days.
Successive U.S. administrations have sought the release of Americans detained by Iran through diplomatic negotiations, prisoner exchanges and sanctions pressure.
President Donald Trump previously secured the release of Americans held by several foreign governments during both of his terms in office.
The newly announced U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding is intended to create a framework for a broader agreement covering regional security issues and future relations between the two countries.
Trump announced the agreement earlier this week and described it as a major diplomatic breakthrough.
However, many details of the arrangement have not yet been publicly released.
Negotiators now have 60 days to attempt to finalize a permanent agreement.
Advocates for detained Americans argue that the negotiations provide an opportunity to address the fate of those still imprisoned by the Iranian government.
They contend that any lasting agreement between Washington and Tehran should include provisions for the release of American citizens, The Washington Post reported.
Whether prisoner releases ultimately become part of the final agreement remains unclear.
For now, the Americans believed to be held inside Iranian prisons remain incarcerated as negotiations between the two countries move forward.