The trial of a Washington Post reporter detained in Iran for months will begin next week, a defense lawyer said Tuesday.
Iranian state TV and other news outlets quoted an unnamed judiciary official as saying the first session of the trial of Jason Rezaian will be held next Tuesday. The official did not say whether the hearing would be open to the public.
It said two other suspects who were detained alongside Rezaian will also be tried.
Rezaian's defense lawyer, Leila Ahsan, confirmed the report. She told The Associated Press that she learned of the hearing from news outlets but confirmed the news with the court.
Ahsan said Rezaian will go on trial with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, who is a reporter for The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi, and a freelance photographer who worked for foreign media.
She reiterated that Rezaian has been charged with "espionage" and other offenses, and said it was not yet clear whether the trial would be open. Ahsan declined to comment further because of the sensitivity of the case.
Iranian officials have previously said Rezaian will stand trial in a Revolutionary Court, which mainly hears sensitive cases in closed sessions.
Rezaian, 39, his wife and two photojournalists were detained on July 22 in Tehran. All were later released except Rezaian.
Washington has repeatedly pressed Iran to release Rezaian and other jailed Americans, including during talks on the sidelines of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. Iran and world powers hope to reach an agreement on its contested nuclear program by the end of July.
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