Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian’s personal horror persisted in a Tehran jail Tuesday as another theory for possibly resolving his ordeal goes out the window.
The notion of some sort of U.S.-Iran prisoner exchange has followed several other failed bits of speculation, notably how his release on “espionage” charges might come with resolution of international talks over Iran’s nuclear program.
Two semi-official news services quoted Iran’s deputy foreign minister in charge of legal and consular affairs as indicating,” An exchange of Jason Rezaian is not on the agenda. Each of the issues has their own separate case.”
Rezaian was arrested and jailed more than a year ago, charged with “espionage” and put through a sporadically held, secret trial that recently ended. A verdict from the Revolutionary Court was expected more than a week ago but never came.
The Post, Obama administration, human rights groups and other journalism organizations have similarly condemned the charges and detainment as shams.
