Tehran Judiciary: Jason Rezaian Will Be Tried Soon

The head of the Tehran judiciary stated that the outcome of Jason Rezaian's case, the Washington Post journalist in Tehran, will be announced after the "finalization and completion of the proceedings," and he will be tried soon. According to the state news agency IRNA, Gholamhossein Esmaeili emphasized that Mr. Rezaian is "in contact with his family and visits are taking place." Jason Rezaian, 38, was arrested on July 22 along with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi. Ms. Salehi was released on bail while Mr. Rezaian remains in prison following an extension of his detention. Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, announced on January 13 that Mr. Rezaian's case had been sent to the Revolutionary Court. According to the American newspaper Washington Post, Jason Rezaian, who holds dual American-Iranian citizenship, was formally charged in a lengthy session on December 6. The newspaper reported on January 10 that five weeks after the charges were presented to Mr. Rezaian, the "exact nature" of the accusations against him is still unclear. The Washington Post, citing Mr. Rezaian's family, who met with him twice last month, reported that this journalist only knows that he is accused of five charges, including "activities outside the scope of journalism." Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, promised government cooperation to resolve Jason Rezaian's case just moments before meeting with his American counterpart John Kerry on January 13, but emphasized that this matter pertains to Iran's judiciary. John Kerry, in a statement on December 7, urged Iranian officials to release Mr. Rezaian as soon as possible and to refrain from pursuing what he described as unclear charges. He stated that he had repeatedly discussed Jason Rezaian's case and that of several other American citizens with Iranian officials and is now "saddened and distressed." John Kerry concluded by calling for the immediate release of this journalist as well as Amir Hekmati and Saeed Abedini, and urged Tehran to cooperate in finding Robert Levinson as well. In this context, Zarif: The Iranian government will help resolve Jason Rezaian's case. Washington Post: The charges against Jason Rezaian remain ambiguous. Concerns from the Rezaian family about the "devastating consequences" of prison on his health.