Tehran, Jan 11, IRNA � Deputy Culture Minister for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Hossein Nooshabadi said on Monday that it is the Judiciary that has to decide about the fate of the Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian.

Nooshabadi made the remarks speaking to IRNA in response to a call by a group of US media outlets for the release of the detained US journalist.

Rezaian, 39, is accused of spying for the US government and launching propaganda campaign against the Iranian establishment.

Jason Rezaian, a US-Iranian journalist, was detained last year along with his wife and one of his friends.

Rezaian's wife and friend were released very soon but he is still being held.

Nooshabadi said that the final decision about the fate of Rezaian will be made by the Judiciary and the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

The Judiciary spokesman has also announced that Rezaian have been sentenced to prison but added that the verdict is not certain yet.

By IRNA