Journalist Reza Valizadeh, seized by Iran in October 2024 and sentenced to 10 years in prison
Seeking political leverage, Iran’s authorities have detained four US-Iranian dual nationals.
Human rights groups, lawyers, and Hostage Aid Worldwide confirmed the seizure of the two men and two women. Three are imprisoned, and one has been released but is barred from leaving the country.
All four live in the US and traveled to Iran to visit family. Two were arrested in the aftermath of Israel’s 12-day war on Iran in June.
One of the detainees is a 70-year-old Jewish father and grandfather from New York who has a jewelry business. He is being questioned about a trip to Israel.
A woman from California was held in Tehran’s Evin Prison. Her whereabouts are unclear after the prison was evacuated followed Israel’s deadly attack in June.
Another woman, who works for a US technological company and runs a charity for underprivileged children in Iran, was imprisoned in December 2024. Although she was released, her Iranian and American passports were confiscated. After Israel’s 12-day war on Iran, she was charged with espionage.
Journalist Reza Valizadeh, a former employee of US Government-funded Radio Farda, was seized in October and sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of “collaborating with a hostile government”.
See also Iran Arrests Another US Citizen
The US State Department said it is “closely tracking” reports of detained Americans. It declined to comment further on “our internal or diplomatic discussions” while calling on Iran to immediately release all “unjustly” held individuals.
Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence declared on Monday that it had arrested at least 20 people working as spies or operatives for Israel in cities across the country.
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian inaugurated last August, had said, “We have to create a framework so that Iranians living abroad can come to Iran without fear”.
Pezeshkian said last week that he would speak with the Intelligence Ninistry and the judiciary to encourage the returns.
The State Department warned Americans after Israel’s war not to travel to Iran “under any circumstances”. It noted that Americans, including Iranian Americans, “have been wrongfully detained — taken hostage — by the Iranian government for months, and years. The threat of detention is even greater today.”
Iran executes man over attack on security forces during Mahsa Amini protests: https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/09/06/iran-executes-man-over-attack-on-security-forces-during-mahsa-amini-protests/
“Mehran Bahramian was found to have been among a group of people who opened fire on a vehicle carrying security personnel in the city of Semirom in the central province of Isfahan, killing officer Mohsen Rezaei and injuring others”
Opposition and human rights groups say he was a protester and political prisoner whose conviction was based on forced confessions.
Iran criticizes France over obstacles in citizen’s release: https://en.mehrnews.com/news/236095/Iran-criticizes-France-over-obstacles-in-citizen-s-release
“Spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry strongly lashed out at the French government for obstructing the release of Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari, who has been arbitrarily detained in France on baseless charges…..The academic was detained in France in February 2025 along with several others. According to her family and Iranian officials, the accusations are unfounded. Esfandiari’s only activity was posting content in a Telegram channel condemning crimes committed by the Israeli regime against the Palestinian people. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office alleged that Esfandiari is being prosecuted on charges of “glorifying terrorism” and offenses related to social media activity.”
Throughout Europe, peaceful pro-Palestine activists and protesters are being accused of “terrorism” and arrested by the authorities.
Iran’s Supreme Court Upholds Activist’s Second Death Sentence
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-court-death-penalty-activist-sharifeh-mohammadi/33506360.html
Iran vows to block Trump-brokered Caucasus corridor ‘with or without Russia’
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202508093340
Russia welcomes US-brokered Armenia-Azerbaijan deal, warns against foreign meddling
https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-welcomes-us-brokered-armenia-azerbaijan-deal-warns-against-foreign-2025-08-09/
khamenei’s ass must be really sore from all the kicks he gets from Putin.
Speak Out, Lose Service: Iran Targets SIM Cards Of Dissenting Voices
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-sim-service-suspened-dissenting-voices/33490992.html
Twelve-day war: Impact of Iran’s strikes censored by Israel: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20250805-twelve-day-war-impact-of-iranian-strikes-censored-israel
“Even though Israel incurred less damage than Iran, our investigation reveals that major strikes did take place but were kept under wraps by Israeli censorship. During the hostilities, the Israeli army ordered Israeli and international media outlets to refrain from publishing images of strikes on or near military targets…..And while Israel has been trying to limit the spread of information about all missile impacts on its territory, information about strikes that damaged military sites is even more tightly controlled.”
Never mind israel , this is how many of iranians live out of sight, asshole!…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFvVvsoNEQf/?igsh=bGpzaW42czM5aXlx
Iran to hold local elections and by-elections on May 1st 2026: https://www.entekhab.ir/fa/news/878100
By-elections are both for the parliament and the Assembly of Experts which elects (and can depose) the Leader.
Ayatollah Khamenei appoints Larijani as his representative to SNSC : https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/08/07/752646/Iran-Leader-Larijani-SNSC-Ahmadian
Larijani was nominated as SNSC secretary by Pezeshkian but he needed to be made one of two representatives of the Leader to sit on the council. The former SNSC chief, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, was made representative to the new Defence Council. The SNSC, chaired by the president, makes important foreign policy and domestic security decisions subject to final approval by the Leader. The Defence Council, also chaired by the president, focuses solely on military matters.
Iran considers itself still at war with the United States and Israel and that the ceasefire is just a temporary arrangement,
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJHxi6NuwHg/?igsh=OXoxZHp4ZW01eHJo
[Editor’s Note: Ali Larijani was also disqualified from standing for President in 2021 by the Guardian Council.]
Iran Appoints Ali Larijani as National Security Council Secretary: https://iranwire.com/en/news/143784-iran-appoints-ali-larijani-as-national-security-council-secretary/
Ali Larijani previously held the position of SNSC secretary from 2005 to 2007 before falling out with President Ahmadinejad who asked him to leave. He is seen as an establisment heavyweight with a pragmatic approach and links to both reformists and principlists. He was targeted by Israel when they attacked Iran: they threatened to kill his wife and children if he did not defect or announce rejection of the system: https://www.aparat.com/v/unv42tb
The previous SNSC secretary, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, was seen by many as too much of a political lightweight despite having excellent military credentials.
[Editor’s Note: “Not qualified” = banned by the Guardian Council from standing in the Presidential election. Twice.]
Correction: He was * not qualified * in 2021 and also in 2024. The Guardians Council qualifies (and in some cases disqualifies) candidates from running. The distinction is important – disqualification implies something wrong about a candidates’s background whereas qualifcation means attaining all of the necessary qualities for the position. Take a look at the UK’s own rules – Qualifications and disqualifications for standing for election: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-uk-parliamentary-general-elections-great-britain/what-you-need-know-you-stand-a-candidate/qualifications-and-disqualifications-standing-election#block-book-navigation
“In order to stand as a candidate you must ensure that you meet the necessary qualifications and be sure that you are not disqualified.”