Ryan Fayhee

There are at least four Americans currently detained in Iran. Two of them — Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati — have been designated by the U.S. government as "wrongfully detained," and they're believed to be held inside Iran's notorious Evin Prison. @margbrennan has the latest.

Two Americans held captive in Iran, Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati, have been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained, which the sister of an ex-Iran prisoner Neda Sharghi said “is very important.” “Because you publicly now recognize these individuals as being used for their blue [U.S.] passport, and the United States government now has the sort of carte blanche to use all its resources to get them out,” she said. “These two individuals, Reza’s and Kamran’s families, do want their cases to be public.”

Roger Carstens said in his experience as former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, “we were very cognizant of the connection between the nuclear talks and that of the prisoner talks.” “Because if the nuclear talks suddenly fail very horribly, the prisoner talks could be pulled down with it. So it was very important for us to maybe just have a dotted line between the two issues, but not link them too tightly together,” he said.

In honor of U.S. Hostage & Wrongful Detainee Day on March 9th, we have been re-introducing you to the Americans in our family-led Bring Our Families Home Campaign who are currently wrongfully detained abroad. This is REZA VALIZADEH, wrongfully detained in #IRAN. Please learn about him. Post about him. Make sure he is not forgotten. #bringthemhome #freedomstartswithaname #freeRezaValizadeh @freerezav

Thank you @SecRubio. Former @RFERL journalist Reza Valizadeh is among the wrongfully detained Americans held by the Iranian regime. He must be released. @freerezav

“They should take great care with this military action to avoid any unfortunate collateral damage,” ⁦@FayheeRyan⁩ says of the U.S. and Israeli governments. W/⁦@philmarcelo⁩ apnews.com/article/iran-w…

Don’t miss this!!!

I think about the American prisoners now in Evin prison amidst the bombing as well as their families. Emad Shargi shared with us what his incarceration was like & how he made it through. ⁦our conversation from ⁦@60Minutes⁩ archive youtu.be/bHcr74po6f4

“It’s my job to let the administration and the Israeli government know that there are innocent American citizens within that prison,” @FayheeRyan said. “They should take great care with this military action to avoid any unfortunate collateral damage.” #freerezav apnews.com/article/iran-w…

“The IDF, the Israeli Defense Force, had put the neighborhood of Evin Prison on notice that residents should depart to avoid air attack. So, obviously prisoners within Evin don't have that same luxury.” @FayheeRyan spoke to @CBSNews about Reza. Read more here: cbsnews.com/news/war-iran-…

Akin #NationalSecurity & global investigations partner Ryan Fayhee spoke with @NPR, @CNN, @Reuters and @HuffPost about his #ProBono efforts on behalf of Reza Valizadeh, a 49-year-old Iranian-American journalist wrongfully detained in Iran since September 2024. For more: akingump.com/en/insights/me… #AkinProBono

Journalist Reza Valizadeh - an American - is also being held by Iranian authorities. We have heard little from the US or any lawmakers as to his status amidst the ongoing bombing. Here is Foley Foundation snapshot: jamesfoleyfoundation.org/hostage/reza-v…

Thank you @AkbarSAhmed for sharing Reza’s story. We are gravely concerned for his safety #freerezav

Foley Foundation board member Ryan Fayhee spoke with CNN about American journalist Reza Valizadeh, who is unjustly imprisoned in Iran. At least five other Americans are also wrongfully detained. Their safety at this moment is paramount. #BringThemHome #Iran cnn.com/2026/02/27/pol…

New: The Trump administration officially names Iran a state sponsor of wrongful detention. The designation unlocks powers from a September executive order to penalize countries that detain Americans for political leverage, says @SecRubio. cbsnews.com/news/trump-ira…

Thanks to @Matt_Ozug @emilykwong1234 for discussing Reza’s case with @FayheeRyan on @npratc. Listen here: npr.org/2026/02/07/nx-…

Ahead of @VP’s visit to #Azerbaijan next week, we encourage the administration to raise the Aliyev regime’s ongoing unjust detention of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu (@freegubad), @RFERL journalist Farid Mehralizada, @VOANews journalist Ulviyya Ali (@UlviyyaAli) and all other political prisoners held by the regime. All political prisoners must be immediately and unconditionally released. #FreeThemAll

Listen to Reza’s attorney discuss his wrongful detention on @NPR one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId…

Reza Valizadeh is an American Citizen who was wrongfully detained by the Iranian regime years ago. He has languished in one of the most notorious prisons for too long. Together with @POTUS, we will work to secure his release and ensure he is reunited with his family.

“Reza was simply doing what journalists do, which is seeking to understand the facts,” his US-based lawyer, Ryan Fayhee, told Al-Monitor. “His charge makes it explicit that he was being targeted for having reported on the reality of the situation in Iran.” #freerezav @AlMonitor al-monitor.com/originals/2026…