Former Chronicle contributor Jason Rezaian ‘facing interrogation’ in Iran

Former Chronicle contributor and Bay Area native Jason Rezian is “facing interrogation” in Iran, the country’s foreign minister said in an interview with NPR — as Rezaian’s family said they have still had no contact with him.

It was July 22 when Rezaian, a 38-year-old reporter for the Washington Post in Iran, was taken into custody, along with his journalist wife and two others. The two other people have reportedly since been released.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, said in the interview that Rezaian, who was born in San Francisco and grew up in Marin County, knows his charge.

“Whatever he has done, and I’m not in a position, nor do I have information to share with you about what his charges are, but whatever he has done, he has done as an Iranian citizen, not as an American citizen. And he is facing interrogation in Iran for what he has done as an Iranian citizen,” Zarif said.

Rezaian is a dual U.S.-Iran citizen.

“His lawyers know. He knows his charge. I’m not supposed to know, but he knows his charge,” Zarif said.

He noted his own relationship with Rezaian in the interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep.

“I, for one, I know Jason personally. As a reporter, he has worked with me, and I know him. And I know him to be a fair reporter. So I had hoped all along that his detention would be short, and I continued to try to make it shorter, than longer. But the point that needs to be made is that an Iranian citizen is being held by Iranian authorities on suspicions dealing with Iranian law,” he said.

The U.S. State Department has repeatedly called on the country to release Rezaian. Iran and the U.S. have not had formal diplomatic ties since 1979.

In late July, The Chronicle interviewed Rezaian’s mother, Mary, who lived in the Bay Area for more than three decades before moving to Turkey last year. She said she was “quite concerned,” particularly for Rezaian’s health. He takes medication for high blood pressure.

In a statement given to the Washington Post, Rezaian’s brother, Ali, who lives in Marin County, said that “the authorities … have conducted a two-month-long investigation from which they have produced no evidence of wrongdoing by either Jason or (his wife) Yeganeh.”

“Neither I nor my mother have been permitted any communication with Jason,” he told the Post. “We remain concerned about their health and implore the Iranian authorities to release them in compliance with Iran’s existing laws and constitution.”

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