TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (UPI) — Jason Rezaian, a journalist on trial in Iran on espionage charges, appeared in Tehran court Monday for what is expected to be the trial’s final session.
Rezaian, of the Washington Post, has been in captivity in Iran for over a year. The hearing Monday, the court’s fourth, was closed to observers. Rezaian’s lawyer, Leila Ahsan, said a verdict was expected within a week. The nuclear weapons agreement in July, between Iran and major world powers, encouraged belief his release would be forthcoming.
“It remains unclear even to Jason’s lawyer what might happen next. No verdict was announced. Iran’s Revolutionary Court has offered no official indication of when such an announcement might come,” said Marty Baron, Washington Post executive editor.
Rezaian, of Iranian-American citizenship, and his wife Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, were detained in July 2014. Although she was later released on bail, he was accused in April 2015 of spying and spreading anti-Iran propaganda. He and his employer denied the charge, saying he was in Iran only as a reporter.
