Iranian American journalist Reza Valizadeh recorded a voice memo while detained in Evin Prison in Tehran. The memo, less than two minutes long, is available above and its transcript follows.
Valizadeh wrote: “I’m Reza Validzadeh, your colleague, who is sending you this message from Evin Prison in Tehran. While three American citizens and I are imprisoned in Iran, 20 Iranian sailors were released by the United States on May 21. The U.S. government could have demanded our exchange in return. However, it did not happen. While the four of us are suffering from various diseases and are deprived of real medical services, the U.S. government could have at least demanded real medical services for us in exchange for the release of Iranian sailors. Even if treating our diseases is a big demand, it would have at least asked the Iranian authorities to reduce some of the physical pressure and mental torture against us in captivity.”
Valizadeh then questioned what concessions the U.S. government received in exchange for the release of Iranian sailors, suggesting that if there was another priority than the release of American hostages, he fully respected this decision.
The memo may refer to an incident on May 21 involving 20 Iranian sailors, though it could also be referring to the seizure on May 4 of the motor vessel Touska. A U.S. Central Command spokesperson told CBS News that 22 crew members were taken from the vessel, which had been seized for trying to run through a U.S.-enforced blockade.
Margaret Brennan contributed to this report.