Jason Rezaian's pardon news denied; 'He will be tried soon'

The Tasnim news agency, citing Jason Rezaian's defense attorney, denied reports about his client's release through a pardon from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, the state news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday, April 11, citing 'an informed judicial source,' that the outcome of Jason Rezaian's case would be announced 'after the conclusion of the proceedings' and that he would be 'tried soon.' Previously, Mohammad Javad Larijani, Secretary of the Human Rights Headquarters of the Iranian Judiciary, had stated that Rezaian's case must first be presented in court before any possibility of pardon by the Supreme Leader. In an interview with Euronews in November 2014, he promised that the status of Rezaian's case would be clarified 'within less than a month.' On Tuesday, April 11, following the issuance of a decree for 'pardon and reduction of punishment' for 809 convicts by Ayatollah Khamenei, some social media users circulated news that Jason Rezaian's name was also included in this 'pardon' list. However, hours after this news was published, the Tasnim news agency, citing Rezaian's attorney, announced that he is currently accused and has not yet been tried or convicted to be eligible for the pardon law. Tasnim did not mention the name of Rezaian's attorney. Mary and Ali Rezaian, Jason Rezaian's mother and brother, announced in March 2015 that after unsuccessful attempts by Masoud Shafiei, the family's chosen lawyer, to take on Rezaian's defense, Leila Ehsan was introduced as the main attorney for this imprisoned journalist. Leila Ehsan had previously represented the case of Yeganeh Salehi, Jason Rezaian's wife, who was arrested alongside him. Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter in Tehran, was arrested on the last day of July 2014 along with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, but Mrs. Salehi was released on bail, while Mr. Rezaian remains in prison following the extension of his detention. During this time, various figures, including U.S. government officials, have called for his release. Notably, Muhammad Ali Clay, the famous boxing champion, requested Iranian officials on March 11, 2015, to free this journalist. Some members of parliament and news websites in Iran have accused Jason Rezaian of 'espionage.' Meanwhile, Hamid Rasai, a hardline member of the Iranian parliament, accused some managers of the Iranian presidency of 'supporting' Mr. Rezaian to visit 'sensitive centers of the Islamic Republic.' He stated in February 2015: 'What individual was Jason Rezaian corresponding with to pass through major security obstacles in preparing his espionage content? Who is preventing the summons and investigation of this institution's manager (A-S), who is closely related to a high-ranking official in the presidency, and who has declared himself a red line so that security and judicial institutions do not approach him?' Some news websites, including Saham News, close to Mehdi Karroubi, named Ismail Samavi, the nephew of Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, as the individual in question by Hamid Rasai. In addition to Jason Rezaian, Saeed Abedini, a pastor, and Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Army soldier, are two Iranian-American citizens currently imprisoned in Iran. Barack Obama, the President of the United States, on March 20, 2015, requested Iranian officials to release Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, and Jason Rezaian, and to cooperate in finding and returning Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent. Robert Levinson disappeared in March 2007 while visiting Kish Island. In this context, Tehran's judiciary announced: Jason Rezaian will be tried soon. The brother of the Iranian president filed a complaint against Hamid Rasai. Obama called for the release of Hekmati, Abedini, Rezaian, and the search for Levinson.