Lawyer For Jailed U.S. Journalist Says Next Iran Hearing Likely Last

Iranian-American Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian poses while covering a press conference at Iran's Foreign Ministry in Tehran in September 2013.

The lawyer of a Washington Post journalist detained in Iran has said that the next hearing in his espionage trial will likely be the last, though the attorney says she is still uncertain when that will be.

Jason Rezaian, 39, has been held almost for a year and has faced three other closed-door hearings before Tehran's Revolutionary Court.

He faces charges that include espionage and distributing propaganda against Iran.

U.S. officials, The Washington Post newspaper, and rights groups have criticized his closed-door trial and pressed for his release.

Rezaian's defense lawyer, Leila Ahsan, said on July 20 that the court had informed her the next session "almost certainly" will be the last one before a verdict is reached.

Rezaian is a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen who was born and spent most of his life in the United States.

Iran does not recognize other nationalities for its citizens.

Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and The Washington Post