Iran to try detained US citizens

Hikers to face trial after entering the country “with suspicious aims”, Tehran says.

us hikers
Josh Fattal was among the trio detained by Iranian authorities in July [AFP]

The two journalists and a photographer were captured in July after apparently crossing the border from northern Iraq.

They are being held in Iran’s Evin prison, where Swiss diplomats have visited them and said they are healthy.

In November, Iranian authorities accused the three of being spies, an offense punishable by death under Iranian law. It was not clear, however, if the three had been formally charged with espionage.

‘Trampled the law’

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, has said the hikers “trampled the law” and “need to be punished”.

In video

Iranian authorities say they are investigating the case of the three Americans

But the US government and the families of the detained say they were on a hiking holiday and crossed the border by mistake.

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, called again on Monday for Iranian authorities to release the three “as soon as possible”.

She said the accusations against them are “totally unfounded” and that the trio was in no way involved in any questionable activity.

 

The incident has further strained ties between Tehran and Washington, which have had no diplomatic relations for nearly three decades.

Iran has also brought up the case of its nationals detained in the US, in response to calls to release the three hikers.

Iranian officials have accused the US of abducting Shahram Amiri, an Iranian nuclear scientist who went missing in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

The US state department has declined to comment on the Iranian claims.

Source: News Agencies