Iran International
A 70-year-old American-Iranian mother has been detained in Iran for two months, the State Department confirmed to Iran International, with her political dissident son saying the move aimed to silence him.
Afarin (Masoumeh) Mohajer was detained on September 29 by security forces at Tehran's Khomeini International Airport, her son Reza Zarrabi told Iran International.
Human rights organizations had previously reported her arrest but said she was detained upon arrival in Tehran. His son, however, said she was arrested as she attempted to fly back to the United States.
Zarrabi, who is based in Frankfurt, said authorities detained his mother to pressure him into ending his political activism against Tehran’s Islamic theocracy. He calls himself a Republican and Liberal Democrat.
“We are aware of the detention of a US citizen in Iran and are closely tracking reports of this case,” the State Department spokesperson said in an email response when asked if Washington is aware of Mohajer’s detention.
"The Department of State has long warned Americans not to travel to Iran and that is particularly true now," the spokesperson added.
Zarrabi described his mother as warm and attached to him after he lost two siblings to suicide. She belonged to no political groups, he said.
Mohajer had travelled to Iran to attend to matters relating to an inheritance, Zarrabi added. She now faces charges he called false, including "membership in hostile groups, propaganda against the Islamic Republic on social media, insulting the Supreme Leader and insulting the religion (of Islam)."
Zarrabi said he has been a political activist for 14 years and a member of Iranian opposition think thanks, but that his mother had no role in his activities.
Mohajer is being held in the women’s section of Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran, Zarrabi added, saying she called last week to plead with him to stop his dissident activities and believes Iranian intelligence agents coerced her.
Zarrabi expressed worries for her health in prison as she suffers from brain cancer and is certain that she is not receiving medical treatment.
“I have no doubt that she is a hostage and a victim of the Iranian government’s hostage-taking toward the United States,” he said.
Relations between Tehran and Washington are at a low ebb after the United States joined a surprise Israeli military campaign on the country in June, attacking three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran has long detained foreign and dual nationals whom it eventually releases in exchange for political or financial concessions.
"Anyone with a US connection, including dual US-Iranian nationals, is at significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran," the State Department told Iran International in its statement.
"Iranian authorities routinely delay consular access to detained US nationals. In particular, Iranian authorities consistently deny consular access to dual US-Iranian nationals."
In a post on his LinkedIn account, Abedini said he was released from custody on Monday night after several days in detention by US immigration authorities.
“I’m relieved to share that I was released from custody tonight. It was a deeply distressing experience, especially seeing those without the support I had,” he wrote on LinkedIn, thanking colleagues and academic associations for their help.
Abedini “was detained for standard questioning and was released," The New York Times reported on Tuesday citing Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.
Joshua Landis, the director of Middle East studies at the university, said on X that Abedini was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while boarding a flight to Washington DC to attend the Middle East Studies Association conference and was taken to jail on November 22.
"He has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa —a non-immigrant work visa granted to individuals in 'specialty occupations,' including higher education faculty. We are praying for his swift release," Landis wrote.
According to the University of Oklahoma’s website, Abedini is an Iranian studies professor whose work focuses on elite politics, technology and foreign policy.
The University of Oklahoma declined to discuss the matter and ICE did not respond to an Iran International request for comment.
A search of the ICE detainee database shows a record for Vahid Abedini, listing his country of birth as Iran and his status as “in ICE custody.”
According to Iranian media, Abedini has long been active in Iran’s reformist political circles and was a member of student Islamic associations at Tehran University.
Abedini was a signatory to a statement issued by reformists during Iran’s 2024 election supporting Masoud Pezeshkian.
Abedini received his master’s and PhD in political science from Florida International University, where he also taught as an adjunct professor before joining the University of Arkansas as a visiting assistant professor.
Iranian scholar and former State Department adviser Vali Nasr described Abedini's arrest as "wrongful detention."
"He is a respected scholar and teacher, and according to his employer, the University of Oklahoma, his visa is valid. I and all his is friends, colleagues and students call for his immediate release and to his work at the university," Nasr said on X.
Grossi told reporters in Manila that the agency’s aim was to “restore continuity of knowledge” and reestablish full verification inside Iran. His comments followed last week’s decision by the UN watchdog’s 35-member Board of Governors calling on Tehran to inform it “without delay” about the status of its enriched uranium stock and sites hit in June strikes.
The board’s resolution, backed by the United States, Britain, France and Germany, deepened tensions with Tehran, which condemned the vote as “illegal and unjustified.” Iran said the move nullified a September inspection accord reached in Cairo with Grossi through Egyptian mediation.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said at the time the Western powers had “killed” the Cairo accord and accused them of seeking escalation rather than diplomacy. Iran insists its cooperation with the IAEA remains within the limits of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but says access to bombed facilities cannot resume until safety and legal issues are addressed.
Iran weighs NPT withdrawal
Iranian lawmakers have said Tehran is considering suspending or withdrawing from the NPT in response to the censure. Amir Hayat-Moghaddam, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the option was “on the table” and under expert review.
He said a final decision would be coordinated between parliament and the Supreme National Security Council. Another lawmaker said a draft bill had been prepared to boost what he called Iran’s “nuclear and sanctions-related deterrence.”