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Jason Rezaian Trial in Iran May Be More About Leverage Than Justice Jason Rezaian Trial in Iran May Be More About Leverage Than Justice
(about 4 hours later)
On Oct. 16, 2010, Europe’s top foreign policy official proposed a date for resuming stalled nuclear talks with Iran. The same day, Iran said it had freed Reza Taghavi, an American business executive incarcerated without charge for more than two years.On Oct. 16, 2010, Europe’s top foreign policy official proposed a date for resuming stalled nuclear talks with Iran. The same day, Iran said it had freed Reza Taghavi, an American business executive incarcerated without charge for more than two years.
Last November, Amir Hekmati, the longest-held American prisoner in Iran, was anticipating that an appellate court would review his case. When nuclear negotiators failed to reach an agreement that month and extended the talks, relatives said, his appeal was inexplicably delayed.Last November, Amir Hekmati, the longest-held American prisoner in Iran, was anticipating that an appellate court would review his case. When nuclear negotiators failed to reach an agreement that month and extended the talks, relatives said, his appeal was inexplicably delayed.
The timing of these events may just be coincidence. But with the espionage trial now underway in a closed Tehran court against Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post’s Iran correspondent who has been imprisoned since July, speculation has intensified that the facts of the case — or lack of them — may have little bearing on the outcome. The timing of these events may just be coincidence. But with the espionage trial now underway in a closed Tehran court against Jason Rezaian — The Washington Post’s Iran correspondent, who has been imprisoned since July— speculation has intensified that the facts of the case, or lack of them, will have little bearing on the outcome.
Iran has many laws that are written so vaguely they can be applied to almost any situation, and it remains possible that Mr. Rezaian did, intentionally or not, violate some aspect of Iran’s legal code simply by gathering information — doing his job as a journalist.Iran has many laws that are written so vaguely they can be applied to almost any situation, and it remains possible that Mr. Rezaian did, intentionally or not, violate some aspect of Iran’s legal code simply by gathering information — doing his job as a journalist.
Yet if history is a guide, his fate may be tied to Iranian political tensions and calculations in the estranged relations between Iran and the United States that may have nothing to do with the accusations, according to political experts, relatives of prisoners and former prisoners.Yet if history is a guide, his fate may be tied to Iranian political tensions and calculations in the estranged relations between Iran and the United States that may have nothing to do with the accusations, according to political experts, relatives of prisoners and former prisoners.
Although Mr. Rezaian, 39, is a native Californian with dual citizenship in Iran and the United States, his Iranian heritage is a further complication.Although Mr. Rezaian, 39, is a native Californian with dual citizenship in Iran and the United States, his Iranian heritage is a further complication.
As in the prosecutions of two other Americans of Persian descent currently imprisoned in Iran — Mr. Hekmati, 31, of Michigan, and Saeed Abedini, 34, of Idaho — the authorities in Tehran do not recognize their American citizenship and have denied them the consular rights afforded other foreign inmates.As in the prosecutions of two other Americans of Persian descent currently imprisoned in Iran — Mr. Hekmati, 31, of Michigan, and Saeed Abedini, 34, of Idaho — the authorities in Tehran do not recognize their American citizenship and have denied them the consular rights afforded other foreign inmates.
Mr. Rezaian, his employer and the United States government have described the charges against him as absurd, and his Iranian defense lawyer has said there is no evidence to support the prosecution.Mr. Rezaian, his employer and the United States government have described the charges against him as absurd, and his Iranian defense lawyer has said there is no evidence to support the prosecution.
Iranian legal and human rights monitors do not discount the possibility that the case might be dismissed, even though a Revolutionary Court judge known for harsh sentences is presiding at the trial.Iranian legal and human rights monitors do not discount the possibility that the case might be dismissed, even though a Revolutionary Court judge known for harsh sentences is presiding at the trial.
“It may be a good-will gesture toward the United States — ‘Look, Iranian courts are fair even if the judge has such a record,’ ” said Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, an advocacy group in New York that has followed the Rezaian case.“It may be a good-will gesture toward the United States — ‘Look, Iranian courts are fair even if the judge has such a record,’ ” said Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, an advocacy group in New York that has followed the Rezaian case.
Although he considered a dismissal or acquittal unlikely, Mr. Ghaemi said, “I wouldn’t rule that out as a way to tell the international community that the judiciary is fair.”Although he considered a dismissal or acquittal unlikely, Mr. Ghaemi said, “I wouldn’t rule that out as a way to tell the international community that the judiciary is fair.”
Other critics of Iran’s legal system, including some former American prisoners, say they believe that Mr. Rezaian will be released only when he no longer serves the purposes of his captors.Other critics of Iran’s legal system, including some former American prisoners, say they believe that Mr. Rezaian will be released only when he no longer serves the purposes of his captors.
“I still don’t know why I was arrested and why I was released,” said Roxana Saberi, an American journalist arrested on Jan. 31, 2009, and released 100 days later, after she had been convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years in prison. Ms. Saberi, who now reports for Al Jazeera America, speculated that Iranian officials were taken by surprise over the international outcry over her case and found what they considered a face-saving way to free her without annulling the conviction.“I still don’t know why I was arrested and why I was released,” said Roxana Saberi, an American journalist arrested on Jan. 31, 2009, and released 100 days later, after she had been convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years in prison. Ms. Saberi, who now reports for Al Jazeera America, speculated that Iranian officials were taken by surprise over the international outcry over her case and found what they considered a face-saving way to free her without annulling the conviction.
“I think it was starting to look pretty bad for them,” she said.“I think it was starting to look pretty bad for them,” she said.
The negative publicity about Iran generated by Mr. Rezaian’s legal ordeal appears to be having little outward effect. Requests by the United States government, The Post and international rights groups for an open trial were ignored.The negative publicity about Iran generated by Mr. Rezaian’s legal ordeal appears to be having little outward effect. Requests by the United States government, The Post and international rights groups for an open trial were ignored.
The trial, which was adjourned after a few hours on Tuesday without an announced resumption date, comes just weeks before a final deadline for agreement in the nuclear talks, a moment that could portend a basic improvement in relations between the United States and Iran. While President Hassan Rouhani of Iran wants that agreement, it is no secret that he has internal adversaries who see the agreement as a threat, and who may view the Rezaian case as leverage.The trial, which was adjourned after a few hours on Tuesday without an announced resumption date, comes just weeks before a final deadline for agreement in the nuclear talks, a moment that could portend a basic improvement in relations between the United States and Iran. While President Hassan Rouhani of Iran wants that agreement, it is no secret that he has internal adversaries who see the agreement as a threat, and who may view the Rezaian case as leverage.
“If there is a conviction in the Rezaian case and no leniency, it can create a crisis in the nuclear talks, yet another complication,” said Trita Parsi, the president of the National Iranian American Council, an advocacy group in Washington.“If there is a conviction in the Rezaian case and no leniency, it can create a crisis in the nuclear talks, yet another complication,” said Trita Parsi, the president of the National Iranian American Council, an advocacy group in Washington.
Whether such an outcome would sabotage the nuclear talks remains unclear.Whether such an outcome would sabotage the nuclear talks remains unclear.
Advocates for American prisoners in Iran have said they believe that the Iranian authorities would swap Iranians held in the United States for the American inmates in Iran. Last month, Mr. Hekmati, in a statement from Tehran’s Evin Prison, accused Iran of “serial hostage taking” and of harassing his relatives to press for prisoner exchanges.Advocates for American prisoners in Iran have said they believe that the Iranian authorities would swap Iranians held in the United States for the American inmates in Iran. Last month, Mr. Hekmati, in a statement from Tehran’s Evin Prison, accused Iran of “serial hostage taking” and of harassing his relatives to press for prisoner exchanges.
American officials have denied that any prisoner exchanges have taken place and have said that none are contemplated. But the United States has released some Iranians in recent years. The most prominent was in April 2013, when an Iranian computer chip expert, Mojtaba Atarodi, was freed from a 16-month imprisonment after having been accused of trying to buy equipment for Iran’s nuclear program.American officials have denied that any prisoner exchanges have taken place and have said that none are contemplated. But the United States has released some Iranians in recent years. The most prominent was in April 2013, when an Iranian computer chip expert, Mojtaba Atarodi, was freed from a 16-month imprisonment after having been accused of trying to buy equipment for Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian officials have complained about the detention of 12 to 15 Iranian nationals they say are held by the United States for violating anti-Iran economic sanctions — trade and financial restrictions that the authorities in Tehran consider illegal. But they have never publicly presented a list of Iranians they want released.Iranian officials have complained about the detention of 12 to 15 Iranian nationals they say are held by the United States for violating anti-Iran economic sanctions — trade and financial restrictions that the authorities in Tehran consider illegal. But they have never publicly presented a list of Iranians they want released.
A former diplomat who has been involved in negotiations to free Americans held in Iran, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid inadvertently offending the Iranians, said it was possible they did not want to resolve the prisoner issue because it was part of a negotiating strategy.A former diplomat who has been involved in negotiations to free Americans held in Iran, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid inadvertently offending the Iranians, said it was possible they did not want to resolve the prisoner issue because it was part of a negotiating strategy.
“They may want to keep the talking point,” the former diplomat said, because “once they have that issue resolved, there’s nothing else for them to say.”“They may want to keep the talking point,” the former diplomat said, because “once they have that issue resolved, there’s nothing else for them to say.”
Iran is certainly not the only country where incarcerated Americans have been viewed as negotiating leverage. North Korea has periodically seized United States citizens in recent years. In November, the North freed two American prisoners into the custody of the United States director of national intelligence after he flew there on a secret mission to secure their release.Iran is certainly not the only country where incarcerated Americans have been viewed as negotiating leverage. North Korea has periodically seized United States citizens in recent years. In November, the North freed two American prisoners into the custody of the United States director of national intelligence after he flew there on a secret mission to secure their release.
In December, the United States secured Cuba’s release of Alan Gross, a subcontractor for the United States Agency for International Development, who had been held for five years and convicted of crimes against the state. Mr. Gross’s release was part of a move by both countries to restore full diplomatic relations and exchange prisoners, among them an American spy and three Cuban spies.In December, the United States secured Cuba’s release of Alan Gross, a subcontractor for the United States Agency for International Development, who had been held for five years and convicted of crimes against the state. Mr. Gross’s release was part of a move by both countries to restore full diplomatic relations and exchange prisoners, among them an American spy and three Cuban spies.