US journo goes on trial in Iran on spying charges

Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian went on trial on espionage charges behind closed doors in Tehran yesterday, 10 months after he was arrested at his home and imprisoned, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

His wife Yeganeh Salehi and a woman described as a photojournalist, who were detained with him in July but later released, also went on trial, the official IRNA news agency said without giving any details on their charges.

The three, all US-Iranian, were in court for around two hours before the session was adjourned, IRNA added.

Iranian authorities have not released details of any charges and pressed on with the case in the face of calls from US President Barack Obama, family members and rights groups for Rezaian's release and more information on the charges.

The case has put pressure on US-Iranian relations, while Tehran, Washington and five other world powers have been trying to hammer out a deal to end a decade-old standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

Rezaian's brother Ali told Reuters Television on Monday that family members had been barred from attending the Revolutionary Court session.

Douglas Jehl, the Post's foreign editor, called the charges baseless. "What Jason did was act as a journalist, which involves gathering information, verifying information, and ultimately publishing it," he told Reuters Television.

Obama has called the charges against Rezaian "vague" and pressed Iran to release all American detainees.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Iranian authorities to ensure a "fair and transparent trial".