“We are now in the investigation phase. I think we will be able to provide more information after technical investigation and questioning," Esmaili was quoted as saying, without naming the reasons why the couple was arrested.
It was earlier reported that two freelance photographers, who are also the US citizens, were detained together with the Washington Post reporter.
Rezaian has been working as a special correspondent in Tehran since 2012. He has both Iranian and US citizenship. His wife is an Iranian citizen who also applied for permanent residency in the United States. She is based in the United Arab Emirates as a reporter for the National newspaper.
“The security forces have the whole country under surveillance and control the activities of enemies. They will not permit our country to become a land where our enemies and their agents carry out their activities," Esmaili was cited as saying by the news agency.
US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf confirmed to the media that the White House was “aware of reports that three US citizens recently have been detained in Iran,” but refused to further comment on the issue due to the privacy concerns. Diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington were broken off after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
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