Iran threatens trial for three detained Americans
Source: Agencies |
August 2, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IRAN reiterated yesterday that three Americans jailed a year ago should stand trial on charges of illegally crossing the country's borders.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iran is also considering other possible charges, including intentionally acting against Iranian security, against Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal. There has been no indication so far that formal charges against the three have been filed.
The Americans' families and the United States government say the three are innocent and accidentally crossed Iran's border while hiking in north Iraq.
"The three American citizens have been detained for illegal entry to Iranian territory," Mehmanparast said, according to the website of the state broadcasting company. "So the violation of law is obvious, and they should be answerable before the law like any other individual."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has in the past proposed swapping the three for Iranians he says are jailed in the US.
But in his latest remarks, Mehmanparast denied their case was related to 11 Iranians allegedly held in US jails.
"Their case is merely a judicial issue," said Mehmanparast in response to protests in several cities around the world over the weekend to demand the trio's release.
US President Barack Obama marked the first anniversary of the jailing of three Americans over the weekend by reiterating that they are guilty of nothing, have never worked for the US government and never had any quarrel with the Iranian government.
Iran has alleged in the past that the three were US spies.
Mehmanparast said the three Americans were offered support from the Swiss Embassy, which looks after US interests in Iran in the absence of diplomatic ties.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iran is also considering other possible charges, including intentionally acting against Iranian security, against Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal. There has been no indication so far that formal charges against the three have been filed.
The Americans' families and the United States government say the three are innocent and accidentally crossed Iran's border while hiking in north Iraq.
"The three American citizens have been detained for illegal entry to Iranian territory," Mehmanparast said, according to the website of the state broadcasting company. "So the violation of law is obvious, and they should be answerable before the law like any other individual."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has in the past proposed swapping the three for Iranians he says are jailed in the US.
But in his latest remarks, Mehmanparast denied their case was related to 11 Iranians allegedly held in US jails.
"Their case is merely a judicial issue," said Mehmanparast in response to protests in several cities around the world over the weekend to demand the trio's release.
US President Barack Obama marked the first anniversary of the jailing of three Americans over the weekend by reiterating that they are guilty of nothing, have never worked for the US government and never had any quarrel with the Iranian government.
Iran has alleged in the past that the three were US spies.
Mehmanparast said the three Americans were offered support from the Swiss Embassy, which looks after US interests in Iran in the absence of diplomatic ties.
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