An Iranian chief justice confirmed Friday that a Washington Post journalist and his wife have been arrested in Tehran. The Washington Post suspected that correspondent Jason Rezaian and his wife and fellow reporter, Yeganeh Salehi, were detained Thursday along with two freelance photojournalists.

Tehran's chief justice Gholam Hossein Esmaili confirmed that the journalists were being held in Iran but not the reasons or charges behind the arrest.

"We are now in the investigation phase" Esmaili said. "I think we will be able to provide more information after technical investigation and questioning."

The news came from an official IRNA news agency. Esmaili later said, "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."

Members of the Washington Post have expressed worries over the safe return of Rezaian and the others.

"We are deeply troubled by this news and are concerned for the welfare of Jason, Yeganeh and two others said to have been detained with them," Washington Post foreign editor Douglas Jehl said Thursday.

Rezaian, 38, holds dual citizenship in Iran and the United States and has been a Post correspondent in Iran since 2012. Jehl said, "[Rezaian] is an experienced, knowledgeable reporter who deserves protection and whose work merits respect."

Salehi is a native Iranian and has applied for U.S. residency. She works for a newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, according to the Washington Post.

A U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman, Marie Harf, said officials were aware of reports that Iran was detaining three U.S. citizens but did not confirm names or any further details.

"We are not able to comment further at this time due to privacy considerations," Harf said. "Our highest priority is the safety and welfare of US citizens abroad."