WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Iranian authorities charged The Washington Post’s Tehran bureau chief Jason Rezaian with espionage after being detained in Iran for nearly a year, according to US media outlets.
“Iranian authorities are charging The Washington Post’s Tehran bureau chief, Jason Rezaian, with espionage and three other serious crimes, including ‘collaborating with hostile governments’ and ‘propaganda against the establishment,’ the Washington Post reported on Monday.
Rezaian’s attorney Leila Ahsan told the Washington Post Rezaian’s indictment alleges that he gathered information about “internal and foreign policy,” and provided it to “individuals with hostile intent.”
According to the Washington Post, Ahsan’s recent meeting with Rezaian was the first since the journalist was arrested on July 22, 2014.
Ashan said the case file provides no evidence that justifies the charges against Rezaian, the Washington Post reported.
In March 2015, US President Barack Obama called on the Iranian government to release three American citizens who are detained in Tehran, including Rezaian.
Meanwhile, Iran and the P5+1 group of countries that include the United States, France, China, Russia and the United Kingdom plus Germany, are trying to finalize a nuclear agreement with Iran by June 30, 2015 to ensure the peaceful nature of the county’s nuclear program.
Tehran and Washington broke off diplomatic relations after the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran.
