Iran Convicts Washington Post Correspondent, Media Says
In what several outlets call an "outrageous" move by the Iranian government, a Washington Post correspondent has been reportedly convicted of four crimes that have not yet been disclosed.
According to The Washington Post, Jason Rezaian has been convicted after months of trial for four charges, including espionage. He has been imprisoned four more than a year and 2 months, and while the other charges have not been detailed yet, the U.S. government has reportedly condemned the conviction.
The reports state that Rezaian was found guilty by the Tehran Revolutionary Court in August. State-run television and the Iranian Students' News Agency have both confirmed the news, stating that spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei said, "He has been convicted, but I don't have the verdict's detail."
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Iranian media also said the judge who laid down the verdict is known to be one of the toughest names in the Iranian courts, and basing on the harsh sentences the judge has previously handed down, Rezaian could possibly be sentenced with 10–20 years behind bars.
Executive editor of the Post Martin Baron has slammed the verdict, saying it was "an outrageous injustice." The White House and several groups protecting freedom of the press have also released statements denouncing the conviction.
The conviction has also led to speculation that Iran might opt for a prisoner swap with the United States since a sentence has not been announced. Rezaian and The Post have repeatedly denied the accusations, thus leading to further debate as to what actions the White House could possibly take in case Iran calls for a prisoner swap in the long run.
Rezaian's attorneys were not allowed to discuss any part of the proceedings, but the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran News Network revealed that the journalist faced charges of "Spying on Iran's nuclear programs." The outlet also claimed that Rezaian provided the U.S. government information that resulted to the inclusion of a large number of Iranian and international businesses and companies on "America's sanction list."
