Confirmed: Journalist Kidnapped

Red emergency light flashing on a red background.

(TheIndependentStar.com) – Further escalating tensions with the United States, Iran has abducted American journalist Reza Valizadeh in an alarming display of aggression.

The Biden-Harris administration confirmed the incident, which highlights Iran’s ongoing hostility toward America and its citizens.

The kidnapping raises serious questions about the effectiveness of Joe Biden’s soft approach regarding the Iranian regime.

Valizadeh is a dual American-Iranian citizen and former reporter for U.S. government-funded broadcaster Radio Farda.

This alarming kidnapping happened just after the 45th anniversary of the American embassy siege in Tehran, a reminder of Iran’s long-standing hatred toward the United States.

While the Biden-Harris administration claims to be working with Swiss partners to gather more information, their response so far has been timid at best.

So far, the administration has had a weak stance on Iran, including releasing billions in Iranian assets and carrying out conciliatory policies that only encouraged the regime.

Valizadeh’s kidnapping is not an isolated incident as Iran often uses American citizens as bargaining chips.

This latest abduction is the first since a 2023 deal where Iran freed five Americans in exchange for $6 billion – a move that many critics saw as capitulating to terrorist demands.

Even more troubling is Iran’s recent execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a California man with dual German-Iranian citizenship, on unsubstantiated charges.

This barbaric act outraged the Iranian-American community and prompted Germany to recall its ambassador. Still, the Biden-Harris administration took no significant action in response.

Jamshid’s daughter Gazelle Sharmahd criticized the U.S. and German governments for their inaction, stating, “YOU left him to die, while the Biden-Harris Administration handed $6 billion to his captors and, if confirmed, his murderers.”

Adding to the concerns, Iran has been ramping up its violent rhetoric against the U.S. and Israel.

Senior Iranian official Kamal Kharrazi even hinted at the potential development of nuclear weapons, stating, “If the Islamic Republic of Iran faces an existential threat, we will inevitably change the policy of our military doctrine [to allow nuclear weapons].”