U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she is "deeply disappointed" by the jail terms given to two U.S. citizens found guilty of spying in Iran.
A chief Iranian prosecutor on August 21 confirmed eight-year jail sentences for two U.S. citizens arrested along the Iran-Iraq border nearly two years ago.
Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were given three years for "illegal entry" into the country and five additional years on charges of "espionage."
Prosecutor-General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi was quoted as saying the two have 20 days to appeal. The third American arrested in the group, Sarah Shourd, has yet to receive a verdict.
Shourd, Bauer's fiancee, was released on a $500,000 bail in September 2010 and is now in California.
The three say they unknowingly strayed across the border while hiking at the time of their arrest in July 2009.
compiled from agency reports
A chief Iranian prosecutor on August 21 confirmed eight-year jail sentences for two U.S. citizens arrested along the Iran-Iraq border nearly two years ago.
Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were given three years for "illegal entry" into the country and five additional years on charges of "espionage."
Prosecutor-General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi was quoted as saying the two have 20 days to appeal. The third American arrested in the group, Sarah Shourd, has yet to receive a verdict.
Shourd, Bauer's fiancee, was released on a $500,000 bail in September 2010 and is now in California.
The three say they unknowingly strayed across the border while hiking at the time of their arrest in July 2009.
compiled from agency reports