Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and his family sued the Iranian government in U.S. federal court Monday claiming Rezaian suffered “irreparable harm” during his 18-month detention in the country. The suit was filed under the “terrorism exception” to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which normally protects foreign governments from litigation brought by U.S. citizens in domestic courts, and is seeking unspecified damages.

“The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, says Rezaian was targeted for arrest to gain advantage in a prisoner exchange and to ‘extort’ concessions from the U.S. government in the multinational talks over lifting sanctions if Iran agreed to limits on its nuclear program,” the Washington Postreports. “Iranian officials repeatedly told Rezaian and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, who also was detained for more than two months, that Rezaian had “value” as a bargaining chip for a prisoner swap, the suit says.”

Here’s more from the Post:

Rezaian and Salehi, who was born in Iran and married Rezaian there, were arrested on July 22, 2014, by Iranian agents wearing surgical masks who forced their way into the couple’s apartment and took them for questioning at Evin prison, a notorious site for political prisoners. Salehi was freed 71 days later on a $32,000 bail provided by her brother-in-law, Ali. Rezaian was eventually tried and convicted on espionage and related charges, according to Iranian state media accounts. But the Iranian government has never officially disclosed the specifics of his conviction in a closed-door trial or the sentence imposed by a judge known for meting out harsh punishments…

The lawsuit provides details of Rezaian’s incarceration that had never before been publicly revealed. Both Rezaian and Salehi were repeatedly subjected to psychological and physical abuse during lengthy interrogations, the suit says. Their captors at turns threatened to dismember or execute them. Interrogated in isolation and often deprived of sleep, each also was warned that the other might be maimed or executed, and that the same fate could befall other family members in Iran, according to the filing.

Rezaian was released in January after 544 days in jail.

• Iran