United States Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday he was “deeply disappointed” by reports that a US journalist jailed in Iran had been charged and denied bail more than four months after his arrest.
Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post bureau chief in Tehran who holds dual US-Iranian citizenship, was charged Saturday after a lengthy court appearance, the Post reports.
But the specific accusations remain unclear, according to the newspaper, and it is not known when he will next appear in court.
Thirty eight years old Rezaian was arrested on July 22 with his wife Yeganeh Salehi who was freed on bail in October. Last week, Iranian authorities reportedly said Rezaian’s detention would be extended for up to 60 days.
Kerry said he was “distressed” at how Rezaian’s case had been handled, and slammed Iran for flouting the law by denying him access to a lawyer.
“The US is deeply disappointed and concerned by reports that the Iranian judiciary has charged Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian with unspecified charges, and that the judge denied his request to be released on bail,” Kerry said in a statement.