Iran General NewsDetained Americans to be tried soon: Iran spokesman

Detained Americans to be tried soon: Iran spokesman

-

ImageReuters: Three U.S. citizens detained in Iran and charged with espionage will stand trial soon, a Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying Tuesday, in a case that Washington has called "totally unfounded." ImageTEHRAN (Reuters) – Three U.S. citizens detained in Iran and charged with espionage will stand trial soon, a Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying Tuesday, in a case that Washington has called "totally unfounded."

The three were held after they strayed into Iran from northern Iraq at the end of July, further complicating relations between Tehran and Washington that were already deadlocked over Iran's nuclear program.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that based on investigations, "the judiciary will make a decision and we know that they will be tried soon," English-language state television quoted him as saying.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said last month the three Americans would be put on trial, but did not give a date.

Also in December, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton repeated the U.S. government position that the charges were totally unfounded and the hikers should be released.

In November, Iran's judiciary announced espionage charges against the three — Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27. Their families said they were hiking and had strayed across the border accidentally.

Under Iran's Islamic law, sharia, espionage can be punishable by death.

The case comes at a time of high tension between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear plans and after Iranian officials accused foreign nations of fuelling unrest after a disputed presidential election in June.

The United States cut diplomatic ties with Tehran after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. The two countries are now embroiled in a row over Iran's nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs. Tehran denies this.

(Writing by Fredrik Dahl)

Latest news

 Statistics show that New Year accidents’ deaths in Iran reached 585

Ahmad Shirani, the head of the Information and Traffic Control Center of the Iranian regime’s police, announced that the...

Land Subsidence in Critical Conditions in Isfahan

Mehdi Toghyani, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), pointed to the occurrence of land subsidence in various...

Iran’s Actual Inflation Rate Higher Than Official Stats

The state-run Donya-e-eqtesad newspaper, in a report analyzing the "general sentiment" regarding inflation in 2023, has stated that households...

Iranian Workers’ Monthly $136 Wages Can’t Cover $500 Expenses

The lives of a significant portion of the Iranian population are marked by uncertainty, largely because the Iranian economy...

Iranian Nurses Earn Twice Their Wages in Ride-Hailing Services

Reza Aryanpour, a member of the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Health and Treatment Commission, highlighted the growing trend of nurses...

Iran: Unprecedented Record of 152 Million Liters of Gasoline Consumption Per Day

On March 19, Iran set a new historical record in gasoline consumption with 152 million liters consumed in one...

Must read

Iran bans two papers for insulting officials

Reuters: Iran has banned two newspapers for insulting political...

Indian FM in Tehran for talks with Iranian officials

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Feb. 06 – India’s Foreign...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you