Iranian-American likely to be free soon

TEHRAN, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Kian Tajbakhsh, a consultant to the Soros Foundation, was expected to be freed from an Iranian prison soon, a spokesman for the judiciary said Tuesday.

Ali Reza Jamshidi told journalists Tajbakhsh’s release was imminent during a visit to Evin Prison, the Fars News Agency said..

Tajbakhsh was arrested on charges of trying to foment a change of government in Iran early this year. His detention came soon after the arrest of Haleh Esfandyari, who was detained while she was in Iran visiting her mother.

Esfandyari, who heads the Middle East program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, recently was released on bail and allowed to leave the country.

The Melbourne Herald-Sun reported the bail set for Tajbakhsh was about one-third the $333,000 set for Esfandyari.