Iran charges Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian with spying

The Iranian authorities have charged Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post's correspondent in Tehran, with espionage for allegedly collecting confidential information about domestic and foreign policy and handing it to "hostile governments".

An Iranian-American national, Mr Rezaian has been held in the notorious Evin prison since his arrest last July, without access to legal advice. On Monday he was allowed to consult a lawyer, Leila Ahsan, for the first time, the US newspaper said.

Iranian media did not give details of the charges against Mr Rezaian, nor any date for the trial. The Washington Post quoted Ms Ahsan as saying the charges included "collaboration with hostile governments" and gathering information about internal and foreign policy which was allegedly provided to "individuals with hostile intent".

The newspaper said the charges could carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The indictment reportedly cites a letter Mr Rezaian allegedly wrote to Barack Obama, US president, as an example of contacting a "hostile government".

The White House on Monday called for Mr Rezaian's immediate release. "If the reports are true, these charges are absurd, should be immediately dismissed and Jason should be freed immediately so that he can return home to his family," said Josh Earnest, White House press secretary.

Mr Rezaian's family say he is in poor health and that his condition has worsened in jail.

Political analysts have suggested the arrest could be politically motivated as hardliners seek to undermine the centrist government of Hassan Rouhani or sabotage any rapprochement with the US amid talks over Iran's nuclear programme.

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A nephew of Mr Rouhani is rumoured to be close to Mr Rezaian and his wife Yeganeh Salehi, who is also a journalist and spent four months in jail last year after being arrested with her husband. She was freed without charge.

Local media linked to regime hardliners have alleged that Mr Rezaian collected information about Iran's business community to help western governments tighten economic pressure on Iran, which is struggling with the impact of international sanctions over its nuclear programme.

He did so allegedly through the Iranian expatriate community in the US, according to the Fars news agency, which is close to the elite Revolutionary Guards.

Some 46 journalists and internet activists are in jail in Iran, according to the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders. But it remains rare for a journalist writing for the mainstream western media to be detained for so long.

Maziar Bahari, a former Newsweek correspondent, spent about four months in prison after he filmed a member of the elite Revolutionary Guards shooting at unarmed pro-democracy demonstrators during the 2009 unrest.

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