US reporter is convicted in Iran

Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who has been detained in Iran for more than a year on charges including espionage, has been convicted.

Spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, told state TV: “He has been convicted, but I don’t have the verdict’s details.”

Ejehi said Rezaian and his lawyer, Leila Ahsan, were eligible to appeal the conviction within 20 days.

Ahsan said “there are no new developments” and said she had not yet received the verdict.

Rezaian was detained with his wife, who is a journalist for The National newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, and two photojournalists, on July 22, 2014.

All were later released, except Rezaian.

Rezaian, the Washington Post’s Tehran bureau chief since 2012, has dual Iranian-American nationality.

Iran does not recognise dual nationality for its citizens.

Rezaian faced multiple charges, including espionage, in a closed-door trial that has been widely criticised by the US government and press-freedom organisations.

He reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison.