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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Iranian official: Washington Post journalist could be freed in ‘less than a month’ | Iranian official: Washington Post journalist could be freed in ‘less than a month’ |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who has been detained in Iran since July without trial, could be released in less than a month, according to a senior Iranian official. | Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who has been detained in Iran since July without trial, could be released in less than a month, according to a senior Iranian official. |
| Mohammad Javad Larijani, who heads Iran’s human rights council and is a top adviser to the country’s supreme leader, said in an interview in Geneva with the Euronews television channel that security officials have now filed charges against Rezaian alleging “that he was involved in activities beyond journalism.” Larijani said that meant activity “which breaches the security of the state,” but he offered no specifics. | Mohammad Javad Larijani, who heads Iran’s human rights council and is a top adviser to the country’s supreme leader, said in an interview in Geneva with the Euronews television channel that security officials have now filed charges against Rezaian alleging “that he was involved in activities beyond journalism.” Larijani said that meant activity “which breaches the security of the state,” but he offered no specifics. |
| Larijani said in English that the fate of Rezaian, 38, who has dual U.S. and Iranian citizenship, is up to Iranian judicial authorities, but he expressed hope that the case against him could soon be dropped. | Larijani said in English that the fate of Rezaian, 38, who has dual U.S. and Iranian citizenship, is up to Iranian judicial authorities, but he expressed hope that the case against him could soon be dropped. |
| [Read the transcript of the interview with Mohammad Javad Larijani.] | |
| “My hope is that before going to the court process, the prosecutor could be content to drop the case to see that maybe the accusations are not quite substantial,” Euronews quoted Larijani as saying in the interview. | “My hope is that before going to the court process, the prosecutor could be content to drop the case to see that maybe the accusations are not quite substantial,” Euronews quoted Larijani as saying in the interview. |
| He also said it was possible that the court could pardon Rezaian “and totally drop all the charges,” adding, “Then everything is finished.” | He also said it was possible that the court could pardon Rezaian “and totally drop all the charges,” adding, “Then everything is finished.” |
| Asked when the case might be resolved, Larijani said, “Well, I anticipate in less than a month.” | Asked when the case might be resolved, Larijani said, “Well, I anticipate in less than a month.” |
| Euronews, which is based in France, did not specify when the interview occurred but said it would be aired in full on Friday. Larijani made similar comments in an interview with the New York Times last week. | Euronews, which is based in France, did not specify when the interview occurred but said it would be aired in full on Friday. Larijani made similar comments in an interview with the New York Times last week. |
| Rezaian was arrested July 22 along with his wife, Iranian journalist Yeganeh Salehi, and another couple. Salehi was freed early last month. Rezaian has been prohibited from hiring a lawyer on grounds that no formal charges had yet been filed against him. | Rezaian was arrested July 22 along with his wife, Iranian journalist Yeganeh Salehi, and another couple. Salehi was freed early last month. Rezaian has been prohibited from hiring a lawyer on grounds that no formal charges had yet been filed against him. |
| Last week, Rezaian’s family called on authorities in Tehran to free him, citing a lack of any evidence against him and expressing concerns for his health. Rezaian, who takes medication to control high blood pressure, is being held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, which houses common criminals as well as dissidents, intellectuals and journalists, his family said. | Last week, Rezaian’s family called on authorities in Tehran to free him, citing a lack of any evidence against him and expressing concerns for his health. Rezaian, who takes medication to control high blood pressure, is being held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, which houses common criminals as well as dissidents, intellectuals and journalists, his family said. |
| Citing unidentified sources, the Voice of America reported Wednesday that Rezaian’s physical and mental health have deteriorated in the past few weeks since the release of his wife. The U.S. government-owned broadcaster said Rezaian has “several untreated health issues, including a serious eye infection that doctors were concerned could lead to blindness.” The report could not immediately be confirmed independently. | Citing unidentified sources, the Voice of America reported Wednesday that Rezaian’s physical and mental health have deteriorated in the past few weeks since the release of his wife. The U.S. government-owned broadcaster said Rezaian has “several untreated health issues, including a serious eye infection that doctors were concerned could lead to blindness.” The report could not immediately be confirmed independently. |
| In the interview with Euronews, Larijani, who comes from a politically influential family and whose brother, Sadegh Larijani, heads Iran’s judicial system, answered vaguely when pressed on the reason for Rezaian’s detention. | In the interview with Euronews, Larijani, who comes from a politically influential family and whose brother, Sadegh Larijani, heads Iran’s judicial system, answered vaguely when pressed on the reason for Rezaian’s detention. |
| “Because the last article he wrote before being detained was about how Iranians love baseball,” journalist James Franey asked. “How does that threaten national security?” | “Because the last article he wrote before being detained was about how Iranians love baseball,” journalist James Franey asked. “How does that threaten national security?” |
| “No, this definitely does not bring any charge against him,” Larijani replied. “So let me just stop at this point and say that these charges considered by the prosecutor of the case are enough to detain him. . . . So this prosecutor detained him and again renewed his detention because the file was not ready, but I think this dossier is approaching completion.” | “No, this definitely does not bring any charge against him,” Larijani replied. “So let me just stop at this point and say that these charges considered by the prosecutor of the case are enough to detain him. . . . So this prosecutor detained him and again renewed his detention because the file was not ready, but I think this dossier is approaching completion.” |
| He added: “I expect that his case will come to a rather final stage. Either he will be totally discharged or it will go the court, and the court will make a final decision.” | He added: “I expect that his case will come to a rather final stage. Either he will be totally discharged or it will go the court, and the court will make a final decision.” |
| In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday that she had no new information indicating that Rezaian’s release may be imminent. | |
| “We don’t have any . . . new information on this particular case, unfortunately,” Psaki said in response to a question. |