Three American citizens, including a journalist of a leading newspaper, have been detained in Iran.
While the State Department confirmed the detention, it did not comment on who these Americans are. The Washington Post, however, said one of the detainees is its journalist.
The Post yesterday said Jason Rezaian, its Tehran bureau chief, and his wife Yeganeh Salehi have been held since Tuesday evening for unknown reasons.
"We are deeply troubled by this news and are concerned for the welfare of Jason, Yeganeh and two others said to have been detained with them," Washington Post foreign editor Douglas Jehl said in a statement.
A Post's correspondent in Tehran since 2012, Rezaian, 38, is "an experienced, knowledgeable reporter who deserves protection and whose work merits respect," Jehl said.
"We are aware of reports that three US citizens recently have been detained in Iran. We are not able to comment further at this time due to privacy considerations.
"Our highest priority is the safety and welfare of US citizens abroad," State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said.
