US citizen Reza Valizadeh reveals grim conditions inside Iran prison, fears disease exposure

TEHRAN, IRAN: A US citizen imprisoned in Iran has broken his silence from inside the notorious Evin Prison, warning about disease, poor medical care and the conditions facing prisoners.

Reza Valizadeh, a dual Iranian-American journalist who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2024, sent a voice recording that was received by CBS News this week. His attorney, Ryan Fayhee, said Valizadeh wanted his latest statement made public.

The message comes as Valizadeh remains among five US citizens trapped in Iran. Two are being held at Evin Prison, while three others are believed to be under exit bans.

Reza Valizadeh raises fears over disease inside Evin Prison

In his recording, Valizadeh described medical care inside the prison as “almost non-existent” and said prisoners have been denied access to the prison library and sports facilities for more than a year.

He also raised one of his biggest concerns: possible exposure to tuberculosis.

Valizadeh said diseases including pulmonary and gastrointestinal tuberculosis had returned inside the prison. He described one prisoner who suffered coughing up blood and severe weight loss for six months before being taken to an outside hospital after his condition became life-threatening. 

The prisoner had reportedly spent about 10 months in close quarters with others before being taken for treatment.

“No one knows how many inmates may have been exposed to or infected with tuberculosis”, Valizadeh said in the recording. He also claimed that medicine brought by prisoners’ families is sometimes stolen by prison staff before reaching them.

According to Valizadeh, many prisoners avoid seeking treatment unless they have no other choice.

Reza Valizadeh has not seen his family for five months

Valizadeh also spoke about his own situation, saying Iranian authorities have prevented him from seeing his family for the past five months.

He believes some of the restrictions were imposed as punishment, while authorities blamed other restrictions on the wartime situation.

He said prisoners can also lose family visits and phone calls when they protest even minor issues inside the prison.

Valizadeh described the situation as especially difficult as more non-political prisoners are reportedly being moved into his ward, leaving an already crowded space with fewer facilities.

His decision to speak out comes with obvious risks. But those close to him say he is desperate for the world to know what is happening inside the prison.

Kamran Hekmati sent back before cancer treatment

Valizadeh also raised concerns about fellow American prisoner Kamran Hekmati, an Iranian-American from New York who was recently ordered back to prison after receiving medical leave.

Hekmati had been granted a 45-day medical furlough for cancer treatment but was reportedly returned after only about a month.

His US-based advocate said he had been unable to obtain chemotherapy treatment.

Valizadeh said Hekmati’s leave should have been extended so he could begin chemotherapy.

The US State Department considers both Hekmati and Valizadeh to be wrongfully detained.

Valizadeh’s lawyer, Ryan Fayhee, has urged President Donald Trump to make the release of wrongfully detained Americans a priority in negotiations with Iran.

The Trump administration has said it is closely tracking Valizadeh’s case and is “working diligently” to secure the release of US citizens detained in Iran.