Iran Dismisses Reports on Prisoner Swap with US
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian official on Tuesday rejected media reports that there are plans to exchange jailed Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian with Iranian prisoners in the US.
“There are no talks on the swap of Jason Rezaian (with Iranian nationals jailed in the US),” Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Expatriates’ Affairs Hassan Qashqavi said.
Each of the issues has its own proceedings, he added.
Rezaian, a 39-year-old correspondent with dual Iran-US citizenships, along with his wife Yeganeh Salehi were arrested in Tehran on July 22, 2014 on espionage charges.
Two other American citizens also detained along with them work as freelance photojournalists. Yeganeh Salehi was released on bail in October 2014.
According to Rezaian’s lawyer Leila Ahsan, his verdict is scheduled to be announced in the near future.
Rezaian had been The Post’s correspondent in Tehran since 2012.
An indictment issued by Tehran’s prosecutor general says Rezaian is charged with “espionage by collecting the country’s decisions on the issues of internal and foreign policy, and cooperation with the hostile governments.”