US detainees on espionage mission: Iran

Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi says the two US nationals, who were detained two years ago, had entered the country with prior planning with the purpose of spying. Following investigations and interrogation by Iran's Intelligence Ministry, it became quite clear that the arrested American nationals were on a mission, IRNA quoted Moslehi as saying on Sunday. His remarks came after Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said on Sunday that Iran had sentenced Shane Michael Bauer and Joshua Felix Fattal each to eight years in prison. He added that the case of Sarah Emily Shourd, who was released in September 2010 on a $500,000 bail, is still open and will be investigated later. Bauer, Fattal and Shourd were arrested on Iranian territory in July 2009 after illegally crossing the border from the mountains of northern Iraq's Kurdistan region. They were later charged with espionage after the Tehran prosecutor found "compelling evidence" that the three US citizens had been cooperating with US intelligence agencies. The Iranian intelligence minister further stated that based on available information, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other intelligence agencies are carrying out activities near Iran's border areas. Iran is aware of their activities and fully monitors them, he said and emphasized that Tehran is taking certain measures in return. Moslehi noted that the media of arrogant powers are spreading propaganda with the purpose of achieving their own objectives.