The United States says an American woman Iran claims to have detained for spying is in fact safe and not in Iranian custody.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said U.S. officials had found the woman and that she is safe and not in Iran.
A U.S. official who declined to be identified due to privacy concerns said the woman is in Istanbul and that American consular officials are in touch with her.
Earlier, an Iranian police official said Iranian border guards had detained the woman -- identified as 34-year-old Hal Talayan -- on January 5 along Iran's border with Azerbaijan on suspicion of spying, the latest in a string of conflicting reports about the case..
General Ahmad Geravand told state radio that authorities arrested the woman on January 5 while she was filming border crossings and guard posts in the town of Jolfa.
But Iranian state TV denied that an American had been detained.
compiled from agency reports
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said U.S. officials had found the woman and that she is safe and not in Iran.
A U.S. official who declined to be identified due to privacy concerns said the woman is in Istanbul and that American consular officials are in touch with her.
Earlier, an Iranian police official said Iranian border guards had detained the woman -- identified as 34-year-old Hal Talayan -- on January 5 along Iran's border with Azerbaijan on suspicion of spying, the latest in a string of conflicting reports about the case..
General Ahmad Geravand told state radio that authorities arrested the woman on January 5 while she was filming border crossings and guard posts in the town of Jolfa.
But Iranian state TV denied that an American had been detained.
compiled from agency reports