Timeline: From Jason Rezaian's arrest to release in Iran
Jason Rezaian is a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen born in California. He was a freelance journalist based in Tehran working for publications including the San Francisco Chronicle and GlobalPost, before joining The Washington Post.
Here is a timeline of events:
• 2012: Rezaian is hired by The Washington Post as a Tehran correspondent.
• July 22, 2014: Rezaian and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, are taken into custody by Iranian authorities during a raid on their home in Tehran. The government confirms the arrest three days later.
• July 29, 2014: The U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, Wendy Sherman, testifies to Congress that a formal demand has been made for Iran to release Rezaian and his wife along with two other U.S. citizens.
• Sept. 17, 2014: Rezaian's brother Ali tells the Washington Post that the journalist's family has not been allowed any contact with Jason and they are concerned about his health.
• Oct. 5, 2014: Rezaian's family makes public that Yeganeh Salehi, who is also a journalist, has recently been released. Rezaian remains in custody at Evin prison in Tehran, where political prisoners are commonly held.
• Dec. 10, 2014: The Washington Post reports the detention is taking a "devastating toll" on Rezaian, who must sleep with blankets on a hard floor and awakens each morning with back pain and suffers from a chronic eye infection.
• Dec. 11, 2014: Mary Rezaian pleads on video for her son's release.
• Feb. 12, 2015: Ali Rezaian tells the Post his brother has been allowed to leave jail briefly for medical treatment and has visited with his wife.
• April 20, 2015: Iranian officials make public that Rezaian has been indicted on charges that include espionage and "propaganda against the establishment."
• May 11, 2015: The U.S. Senate passes a resolution calling for Iran to release Rezaian and other detained Americans.
• May 26, 2015: Rezaian's trial begins behind closed doors.
• July 14, 2015: An agreement to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting some international sanctions is reached with the U.S. and other world powers.
• Aug. 10, 2015: Rezaian's final hearing is held in Iranian court, according to the Washington Post.
• Oct. 12, 2015: Iranian TV reports Rezaian has been convicted, but there is no word on the length of his prison sentence.
• Dec. 3, 2015: Rezaian marks his 500th day of imprisonment.
• Jan. 16, 2016: Iran announces Rezaian is free.
Oct. 11, 2015: