Thursday, February 16, 2012

Iran

Iran Concludes Inquiry Into Detained U.S.-Iranians

Esfandiari on Iranian television in July (AFP)

August 12, 2007- Iran's judicial authorities say they have completed their investigations into the case of two detained Iranian-Americans.

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August 12, 2007

The official IRNA news agency quoted Tehran's deputy prosecutor, Hassan Haddad, as saying today that some "written work" remains to be done in the case, and that then a decision will be made.

The two, Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh, were arrested separately in May while visiting Iran from the United States. Iran accuses them of involvement in a plot to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment.

Esfandiari is an academic at the U.S.-based Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Tajbakhsh is a consultant with the Soros Institute, founded by billionaire investor George Soros.

Last month, Iranian television aired what it called "confessions" by the two.

The United States has denounced the broadcast as illegitimate and coerced. Washington has called on Tehran to immediately release the two dual nationals.

(Reuters)

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