Jason Rezaian quotes:

I'm planning on how I want to tell my own story. I feel like my situation and my experiences are unique in some ways.

I just found that the knowledge of ordinary Americans about Iran is very small - which is totally expected.

I think in any country you have macro situations and micro ones.

I can just generally say that Iran is a very multilayered, controversial country. There are so many contrasts and controversies that question themselves within whole different layers. It's not an easy place to wrap up in one answer or one question. It's a very multicultural, multiethnic place.

I'm a very hopeful person.

For me, the best journalism is usually the best storytelling, and the best stories are those of real people.

For me, the best journalism is usually the best storytelling, and the best stories are those of real people. Sometimes those real people are people in positions of great prominence or power or adverse situations, and sometimes it's just normal folks who help illuminate a situation, a place, a culture. And for me, that's always been the best way of telling a story.

A lot will have to happen globally and personally before the stars would align.

I think that I'm a really optimistic person.

I'm always surprised when I read a story that's reported from a great distance.

In terms of how Iranians see the U.S. government, that's a difficult question. But in terms of how Iranians see Americans, there is a very good mutual belief that they have so much in common with American people and they feel totally related to them. In terms of government, definitely there are some hardcore hardliners who hate the U.S. government, but at the same time, there are some more moderate.