Recent discussion in parliament suggests Iranian authorities will use reporter Jason Rezaian as a political pawn, writes The Guardian.

The case against Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who is expected to be sentenced in Iran this week, remains a mystery and subject to much speculation. Some have said he was a pawn in the nuclear negotiations. Others claimed he was collateral damage in the infighting among factions of the regime. Some even suggested that Rezaian got a bit comfortable in Iran and permitted himself to form too many professional and social ties.

Recent inadvertent revelations by Iran’s members of parliament, as well as the Islamic Republic’s historic penchant for prisoner swaps, suggest Rezaian may be the victim of a carefully orchestrated operation.

Read the full story via The Guardian.