Iran releases arrested journalist on bail

Al Jazeera English

Tehran has released on bail an Iranian journalist who was arrested more than two months ago, while her husband, a fellow reporter who was arrested at the same, remains in jail.

Yeganeh Salehi, a foreign correspondent for the UAE's English-language newspaper the National, and Jason Rezaian, the Iran correspondent for the Washington Times newspaper, were arrested on July 22.

On Monday, both newspapers quoted Salehi's brother-in-law as saying that she was freed on bail late last week.

It remains unclear why Rezaian, 38, and Salehi, 30, were arrested or what charges they are facing.

Last month, Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, told the US broadcaster NPR that Rezaian was being questioned "for what he has done as an Iranian citizen".

Salehi was able to visit her husband, who holds dual US and Iranian citizenship, over the weekend and told his brother that they were both "physically healthy".

Rezaian has high blood pressure and is on daily medication.

US requests declined

"We are thankful Yeganeh has been released on bail," Salehi's family said in a statement.

"We remain confident that Jason has committed no crime. We pray that the Iranian government will conclude that Jason should be released as well."

A photojournalist and her husband, who both have dual Iranian-US citizenship, were arrested at the same time, but they were later released.

Iran does not recognise dual citizenship and has thus rejected US requests about Rezaian, the Washington Post has said.

The two countries lack diplomatic ties and have been at loggerheads over Iran's disputed nuclear programme.

Iran's president Hassan Rouhani has refused to provide details on Rezaian's case.

"If they have not committed any crimes, it will be determined that he or she is innocent, they will be freed and it will be announced openly," Rouhani told CNN in September.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says Iran has about 35 imprisoned journalists and is among the top three countries for jailing reporters.