Max Blumenthal, Grayzone founder and editor-in-chief, interrogated over reporting assignment to Iran

Miami, July 15, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is alarmed by reports that journalist Max Blumenthal was interrogated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents for about two hours at Washington Dulles International Airport on July 11 after returning from a reporting assignment in Iran.

Blumenthal, founder and editor-in-chief of the independent news site The Grayzone, told CPJ that agents seized two phones and questioned him about his trip to Iran, where he reported on the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He said he entered the country on a press visa issued by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, as other reporters did.

“I did nothing but report there. It was very clear that what I was doing was journalistic,” Blumenthal told CPJ.

“CBP must respect the right of all journalists to carry out their work free from intimidation or interference, regardless of their editorial perspective,” said Jose Zamora, CPJ’s regional director for the Americas.

Blumenthal, 48, interviewed members of Iran’s negotiating team, senior political officials, academics, and ordinary citizens for a series of video and print reports for The Grayzone. Blumenthal is the author of four books and a widely recognized journalist.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the journalist said his phones had not been returned. CPJ has requested an explanation from CBP regarding the interrogation and the seizure of his devices.