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| Iran trial of Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian resumes | Iran trial of Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian resumes |
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| The spying trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter held in Iran for nearly a year, has resumed in Tehran behind closed doors at a critical moment in the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the west. | The spying trial of Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter held in Iran for nearly a year, has resumed in Tehran behind closed doors at a critical moment in the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the west. |
| The Iranian-American journalist, who is standing trial on charges of espionage and collaborating with hostile governments, appeared before a revolutionary court for the third time on Monday, the Irna state news agency reported, but little information has been released on what was discussed. | The Iranian-American journalist, who is standing trial on charges of espionage and collaborating with hostile governments, appeared before a revolutionary court for the third time on Monday, the Irna state news agency reported, but little information has been released on what was discussed. |
| There has been international condemnation of the prolonged detention of the 39-year-old, who was working in Iran with appropriate accreditation and has had two hearings since May. Iran has a history of jailing journalists working for the foreign press. Its intelligence authorities have a deep suspicion of citizens with dual nationality. Iran does not recognise dual nationality and thus treats Rezaian solely as an Iranian. | There has been international condemnation of the prolonged detention of the 39-year-old, who was working in Iran with appropriate accreditation and has had two hearings since May. Iran has a history of jailing journalists working for the foreign press. Its intelligence authorities have a deep suspicion of citizens with dual nationality. Iran does not recognise dual nationality and thus treats Rezaian solely as an Iranian. |
| Related: Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian goes on trial in Iran for spying | Related: Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian goes on trial in Iran for spying |
| His case is being presided over by Abolghassem Salavati, a hardline judge notorious for issuing heavy sentences. Local and foreign media have been denied access to the trial and the reporter himself has been held largely incommunicado since his detention in July 2014. | His case is being presided over by Abolghassem Salavati, a hardline judge notorious for issuing heavy sentences. Local and foreign media have been denied access to the trial and the reporter himself has been held largely incommunicado since his detention in July 2014. |
| The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Monday that Rezaian’s wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, and a third individual, who has not been named, were also present at the trial. Rezaian was arrested last year at his home in Tehran along Salehi and two friends, an Iranian-American couple. The two friends, who are believed to have close ties to the family of the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, were released shortly after their arrests and Salehi too was subsequently released on bail in October. | The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Monday that Rezaian’s wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, and a third individual, who has not been named, were also present at the trial. Rezaian was arrested last year at his home in Tehran along Salehi and two friends, an Iranian-American couple. The two friends, who are believed to have close ties to the family of the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, were released shortly after their arrests and Salehi too was subsequently released on bail in October. |
| Rezaian is also facing charges of collecting confidential information and spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic. At least one hardline Iranian news agency has alleged that he provided economic and industrial data to the US government while Iran was under international sanctions. | Rezaian is also facing charges of collecting confidential information and spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic. At least one hardline Iranian news agency has alleged that he provided economic and industrial data to the US government while Iran was under international sanctions. |
| “We remain disappointed that the court proceedings are closed and that Jason’s lawyer may not discuss the court proceedings,” said John Hughes, the president of the National Press Club, which is based in Washinton DC. | “We remain disappointed that the court proceedings are closed and that Jason’s lawyer may not discuss the court proceedings,” said John Hughes, the president of the National Press Club, which is based in Washinton DC. |
| “We call upon Iran to stop delaying this trial and to release Jason so that he may be with his family. Jason has been held in prison longer than any other western journalist and he should be freed.” | “We call upon Iran to stop delaying this trial and to release Jason so that he may be with his family. Jason has been held in prison longer than any other western journalist and he should be freed.” |
| He added: “Jason is a journalist. Later this month he will be recognised by our organisation with one of our most prestigious awards for press freedom. The charges by Iran are baseless. The world is watching. It is well past time that Iran shows that it belongs in the community of nations and releases Jason.” | He added: “Jason is a journalist. Later this month he will be recognised by our organisation with one of our most prestigious awards for press freedom. The charges by Iran are baseless. The world is watching. It is well past time that Iran shows that it belongs in the community of nations and releases Jason.” |
| Rezaian’s mother, Mary, who is in Tehran, was not allowed to attend the trial, according to the New York Times correspondent in Tehran, Thomas Erdbrink, who was outside the court. | Rezaian’s mother, Mary, who is in Tehran, was not allowed to attend the trial, according to the New York Times correspondent in Tehran, Thomas Erdbrink, who was outside the court. |
| She said she had ”no idea what happened we were not able to see Jason”, according to Erdbrink. The Washington Post said last month that efforts by the paper to secure a visa for a senior editor to travel to Iran had been blocked. | |
| Rezaian’s case has embarrassed Rouhani’s moderate administration. Many analysts believe he is being used in an Iranian power struggle, caught up in a high-level feud between Rouhani’s administration and its internal opponents. | Rezaian’s case has embarrassed Rouhani’s moderate administration. Many analysts believe he is being used in an Iranian power struggle, caught up in a high-level feud between Rouhani’s administration and its internal opponents. |
| Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in April that it was “no coincidence” that Rezaian was jailed at the time when Iran’s moderate forces are trying to reach a nuclear accord with the west amid opposition from hardliners at home. Iran’s judiciary, which is responsible for Rezaian’s arrest, acts independently of Rouhani’s government. | Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in April that it was “no coincidence” that Rezaian was jailed at the time when Iran’s moderate forces are trying to reach a nuclear accord with the west amid opposition from hardliners at home. Iran’s judiciary, which is responsible for Rezaian’s arrest, acts independently of Rouhani’s government. |
| It is not clear what sort of evidences Iran has used to charge Rezaian but according to Rezaian’s brother, Ali, two pieces of evidence used against him were a visa application he had lodged for his Iranian wife in order to be able to travel to the US and a letter he sent to Barack Obama’s 2008 White House transition team offering help to improve bilateral relations between Iran and the US. | It is not clear what sort of evidences Iran has used to charge Rezaian but according to Rezaian’s brother, Ali, two pieces of evidence used against him were a visa application he had lodged for his Iranian wife in order to be able to travel to the US and a letter he sent to Barack Obama’s 2008 White House transition team offering help to improve bilateral relations between Iran and the US. |
| Rezaian’s family and his employer, the Washington Post, have vehemently denied the charges against him. The Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, has condemned the trial as “the shameful acts of injustice” facing his reporter and has said “there is no justice in this system, not an ounce of it”. | Rezaian’s family and his employer, the Washington Post, have vehemently denied the charges against him. The Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, has condemned the trial as “the shameful acts of injustice” facing his reporter and has said “there is no justice in this system, not an ounce of it”. |
| On Monday, Baron issued a fresh statement urging Iran to release his reporter from “unjust detention on espionage and other charges trumped up by Iranian authorities has now, almost inconceivably, stretched into nearly a full year”. | |
| “We call again on Iran to deliver a speedy, fair and impartial judgment in Jason’s case, one that could only result in his acquittal, immediate release, and a long-overdue reunion with his family,” Baron said. | |
| There are at least two other Americans held in jail in Iran, including pastor Saeed Abedini, and former US marine Amir Hekmati, who has been held in jail since 2011. Hekmati’s family have recently stepped up the campaign to release him, urging Iran and the US prioritise his release. Hekmati’s father has suffered from brain cancer and two strokes while he has been imprisoned, his family said. | There are at least two other Americans held in jail in Iran, including pastor Saeed Abedini, and former US marine Amir Hekmati, who has been held in jail since 2011. Hekmati’s family have recently stepped up the campaign to release him, urging Iran and the US prioritise his release. Hekmati’s father has suffered from brain cancer and two strokes while he has been imprisoned, his family said. |
| “Amir’s prison conditions are very poor. He was moved a year ago ...to a section of the prison that was a quarantine and not equipped to be a prison ward,” Amir’s sister, Sarah, told the Guardian. | “Amir’s prison conditions are very poor. He was moved a year ago ...to a section of the prison that was a quarantine and not equipped to be a prison ward,” Amir’s sister, Sarah, told the Guardian. |
| “He is exposed to lice, fleas, bed bugs and meager food of rice and lentils. He is in a ward with hardened criminals. As of this past year Amir has been allowed phone calls once a day for a few minutes. His spirits are low as he has not felt that there has been any movement or effort to come to a resolution with his case.” | “He is exposed to lice, fleas, bed bugs and meager food of rice and lentils. He is in a ward with hardened criminals. As of this past year Amir has been allowed phone calls once a day for a few minutes. His spirits are low as he has not felt that there has been any movement or effort to come to a resolution with his case.” |