Global General
Iran to put detained Americans on trial
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-15 00:10
TEHRAN: Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday that the three detained Americans will be tried by the country's judiciary, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
"Introgating the three U.S. citizens who have entered the country illegally with suspicious aims is underway," Mottaki told reporters.
Asked whether Iran is ready to exchange the three U.S. citizens with detained Iranians in the United States, he said that "these three U.S. citizens will be tried by Iran's judiciary system and the verdict will be issued."
The three U.S. hikers, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal, were arrested in Iran on July 31 after they illegally entered the country from its Western boarders.
Iran has also claimed that some Iranian businessmen and nuclear- related scientists and officials have been detained by the U.S. in different countries and have been taken to the United States.
