New York, NY (June 9, 2026) — Concern is growing over the fate of Americans imprisoned in Iran, including Kamran Hekmati, a Jewish-American businessman from New York, and Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist, both of whom have been classified by the United States as wrongfully detained.

The designation gives Washington access to expanded diplomatic and legal tools as officials work to secure their release. The cases have drawn renewed attention amid broader discussions over any potential future agreement between the United States and Iran, with families and advocates urging that detained Americans be made a central part of negotiations.

Hekmati, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen with ties to New York’s Diamond District and the Long Island Jewish community, traveled to Iran to visit relatives and was later arrested. His detention has been linked to a prior visit to Israel years earlier for a family religious milestone. Iran does not recognize dual citizenship, and dual nationals entering the country are typically treated as Iranian citizens under Iranian law.

Hekmati is being held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, a facility long associated with political detainees and foreign nationals. His family has raised serious concerns about his health, including reports that he has cancer and needs continued medical care.

Valizadeh, a dual Iranian-American journalist, returned to Iran in 2024 to see elderly relatives after years abroad. He was later detained by Iranian security forces, held under harsh conditions, and sentenced to a lengthy prison term on allegations tied to working with a hostile government. Supporters say the proceedings lacked basic due process and reflect a broader pattern of pressure on dual nationals and critics of the Iranian regime.

Recent communications from inside Evin Prison have intensified fears that several American citizens held there are suffering from medical issues without adequate treatment.

The cases remain a sensitive diplomatic matter, but families are pressing U.S. officials to ensure that any talks with Tehran include a clear demand for the return of all Americans held in Iran.