Global General

Iran says detained Americans to be tried soon

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-12 19:06

TEHRAN: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday that the three Americans detained in Iran and charged with espionage will stand trial soon.

"About the case of the three US citizens who according to your (foreign media) reports are climbers, the judiciary will make a decision based on investigations," Mehmanparast told reporters at his weekly press conference, adding "we have got the news that they will be tried soon."

The three Americans were detained last July after they strayed into Iran from northern Iraq. Later in November, they were charged with espionage and might face death penalty under Iran's Islamic law.

The US government considered the charges were totally unfounded and said the hikers should be freed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said last month that the three Americans would be put on trial without giving a date.

The United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. And recent years, the US government and its allies have been accusing Iran of secretly seeking a nuclear bomb which Tehran denies.