TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – The closed trial of an American-Iranian reporter for the Washington Post detained in Iran for more than 10 months began Tuesday in a court used to hear security cases, the official IRNA news agency reported.
It said the trial of Jason Rezaian began in a Revolutionary Court, and that he has been charged with espionage and propaganda against the Islamic republic. The report did not provide further details, but initial hearings in Iran usually see the prosecutor spell out charges.
Rezaian, his wife Yeganeh Salehi and two photojournalists were detained on July 22 in Tehran. All were later released except Rezaian, who was born and spent most of his life in the United States, and who holds both American and Iranian citizenship. Iran does not recognize other nationalities of its citizens.
U.S. officials have repeatedly pressed Iran to release Rezaian and other jailed Americans, including during talks on the sidelines of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran and world powers hope to reach a comprehensive agreement on the program by the end of June.
The Washington Post has criticized Rezaian’s detention and the handling of the case. It said his mother and wife have been barred from attending the trial, and that requests for a visa for a senior editor to travel to Iran went unanswered.