We seem to have totally missed the mark on our recent negotiations with Iran. We never asked Iran to release the American citizens they were holding hostage, Pastor Abedini for example. Now Iran has sentenced Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian to prison on charges of spying. Jason Rezaian is a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen.

Politico reported today that Tholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, spokesman for Iran’s judiciary, announced that Rezaian has been sentenced to an unspecified prison term. An appeal is expected, and Ejehi described the verdict as “not finished.”

The article reports:

Rezaian, who has covered Iran for the Post since 2012, grew up in Marin County, California and spent most of his life in the United States. The Post, U.S. officials and Rezaian’s family have all called for his release. Iran does not recognize dual-nationality.

“By withholding information about the verdict and sentence, the Iranian government shows that its pursuit of Jason Rezaian on bogus espionage charges is nothing but a facade to prolong his unjust imprisonment,” said Sherif Mansour, the Middle East and North Africa program coordinator for the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

“The authorities should immediately drop all charges against Jason Rezaian and release him, along with all journalists imprisoned in Iran in relation to their work,” he said.

The CPJ says 30 journalists were behind bars in Iran in 2014, making it the second worst jailer of reporters, after China.

We should not even be discussing the time of day with the government of Iran until they release the Americans they are currently holding in prison. We need to add economic sanctions on them until these people are returned home.