Jason Rezaian, the Iranian-American Washington Post reporter, made his first court appearance in Tehran on Tuesday May 26 along with the other two accused in the case, including his wife, Yeganeh Salehi.
According to an ISNA report, the session was held behind closed doors before Judge Salavati and a date for the hearing has not been confirmed.
Rezaian was arrested 10 months ago, and the charges against him could carry a penalty as high as 20 years in jail.
The Washington Post has reported that according to Rezaian’s lawyer, the journalist has been charged with “spying, collaboration with aggressive states and propaganda against the regime”.
The report adds that Rezaian’s lawyer maintains that the prosecutor has not submitted any evidence to establish the charge of espionage against his client.
The U.S. president and the Washington Post have rejected the charges against Rezaian and called for his immediate release.
The spokesman for the Iranian judiciary has commented on whether the trial will be public, noting that it’s up to the judge.
