Jason Rezaian’s family still not told what verdict is in Iran spying case

The family of Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post correspondent accused of espionage in Iran, said Monday that Iranian authorities had yet to inform the family and defense counsel of the verdict in the controversial case.

“They haven’t told us what the verdict is — we’re trying to find out,” Ali Rezaian, brother of the jailed journalist, said in a telephone interview from the United States.

The mother, wife and lawyer of the jailed journalist went to court in Tehran on Monday in an unsuccessful effort to seek clarification, the brother said.

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“Should the verdict be anything other than a full exoneration, we will appeal and seek the justice that Jason deserves,” he added in a statement.

Various news media quoted an Iranian government television report late Sunday quoting a judiciary spokesman, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, as saying that Rezaian had been “convicted” of unspecified charges. But it was unclear if that report was based on a mistranslation.

Earlier on Sunday, the judiciary spokesmen told journalists at a news briefing that a “verdict” had been reached in the case but that he did not know the results.

He could not be reached for subsequent comment.

Jason Rezaian, 39, who has been in custody for almost 15 months, remained in jail Monday, his family said. Observers said the fact that he was still incarcerated indicated that he had likely not been cleared of the various charges against him, including espionage. The other charges also involve alleged violations of Iranian national security.

His family and the Washington Post have said Rezaian is innocent and was engaged in legitimate journalistic activities in Iran. Press freedom advocates have condemned Iran’s handling of the case and called for his release.

Rezaian was arrested on July 22, 2014, along with three other journalists, including his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, who works for the National newspaper based in United Arab Emirates. Rezaian is the only one of the four who remains in custody.

If convicted on espionage charges, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

Rezaian is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and dual U.S.-Iranian national. Iran does not recognize dual nationality of its citizens.

Mostaghim is a special correspondent.

Follow McDonnell on Twitter at @mcdneville for news out of the Middle East