Iran's intelligence minister, Heydar Moslehi, says he has no doubt three U.S. citizens arrested last July are spies, and called on Washington to propose a prisoner swap to secure their release.
Moslehi spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting on May 23.
The three Americans, Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Josh Fattal, who were detained after they apparently entered Iran from northern Iraq, were allowed to meet with their mothers in Tehran last week.
The three families and the U.S. government have denied the spying accusations and called for their release.
compiled from agency reports