SMUGGLED Tape Exposes Real-Time PRISON HORRORS

Empty rusty prison cell with a small window.

An Iranian-American journalist locked inside Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison has smuggled out a voice recording describing American citizens suffering from untreated diseases and what he calls physical and mental torture — and the U.S. government has officially declared his detention wrongful.

Story Highlights

Journalist Reza Valizadeh, held in Iran’s Evin Prison, recorded a message alleging three American citizens there suffer from diseases without adequate medical care and endure physical and mental torture.
The U.S. Secretary of State officially designated Valizadeh as wrongfully detained in May 2025, and the prior administration issued two statements condemning his arrest as arbitrary and contrary to international law.
Valizadeh launched a hunger strike to protest the Iranian judiciary’s refusal to review his case, while reports describe lice infestations, overcrowding, poor air quality, and denied medical care at the facility.
An Israeli strike on Evin Prison forced his transfer to Fashafouyeh Prison, where the Committee to Protect Journalists described dangerously overcrowded and medically inadequate conditions that severely affected his health.

A Voice from Inside Evin Prison

Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist detained in Tehran’s Evin Prison, managed to record and transmit a message that CBS News obtained and published. In the recording, Valizadeh states that three American citizens held there, including himself, “suffer from various diseases without adequate medical care” and endure “physical and mental torture.” He also wrote in a separate message reported by Iran International that “the judicial process for political prisoners in Iran is hasty, lacks thorough examination, and leads to lengthy and unfair sentences.” ^[1]

Valizadeh’s case is not an isolated complaint. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty confirmed he remains in Evin Prison as conditions around and within the facility have deteriorated. ^[2] Amnesty International separately documented that prisoners at Evin, including those with pre-existing health conditions, are being denied adequate medical care — a pattern that predates and extends beyond Valizadeh’s individual situation. ^[8] That broader structural backdrop lends weight to his specific allegations, even as independent verification of his personal medical records remains unavailable.

U.S. Government Formally Labels Detention Wrongful

The U.S. Secretary of State officially designated Valizadeh as wrongfully detained in May 2025, according to the James Foley Foundation. ^[4] The prior administration’s State Department issued two formal statements condemning his arrest as “arbitrary and contrary to international law,” according to his brother, Mohammadreza Valizadeh, in an interview with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). ^[3] These official designations carry legal and diplomatic weight, signaling that the U.S. government views his confinement as outside the bounds of legitimate criminal prosecution.

The James Foley Foundation reports that Valizadeh suffers from asthma and significant dental problems and has been “repeatedly denied proper nutrition and medical care,” with conditions worsened by overcrowding and poor air quality inside Evin. ^[4] Iran International reported that sources described lice infestations, lack of medical care, and restricted family visits as additional factors harming his health. ^[6] Valizadeh subsequently launched a hunger strike to protest the judiciary’s refusal to review his case, escalating his public resistance from inside the prison walls.

Israeli Strike Triggers Dangerous Prison Transfer

On June 25, 2025, an Israeli military strike targeted the area around Evin Prison, forcing prison authorities to transfer Valizadeh and other detainees. His brother told the CPJ that Valizadeh, who has asthma and lung issues, was returning to his cell when the attack occurred. ^[3] He was subsequently moved to Fashafouyeh Prison, which the CPJ described as “dangerously overcrowded and medically inadequate,” where “extreme neglect and inhumane conditions severely affected his health.” ^[3] He was transferred back to Evin on August 9, 2025. ^[7]

The core challenge in evaluating this case is that Iran controls access to Evin Prison and has provided no public medical records, treatment logs, or official rebuttal addressing Valizadeh’s specific allegations. The evidence available is primarily testimonial — from the detainee himself, his family, and advocacy organizations including the CPJ, the James Foley Foundation, Hostage Aid, and United Against Nuclear Iran. Those organizations have clear advocacy missions, which skeptics may weigh accordingly. However, the U.S. government’s formal wrongful-detention designation, the absence of any Iranian counter-evidence, and Amnesty International’s independent documentation of systemic medical neglect at Evin together form a record that is difficult to dismiss. For Americans on both the left and right who believe their government should fight for citizens held abroad, the question of whether enough pressure is being applied to secure Valizadeh’s release cuts across party lines.