Three Americans detained on Iran’s border with Iraq have been formally accused of espionage, a signal they may be tried, or used as bargaining chips in Tehran’s cold war with the West over its nuclear program.
The announcement came as Washington and Tehran were maneuvering over a deadlock in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad alleged the three crossed Iran’s border illegally. “In all countries, crossing borders would have a very heavy sentence, according to the law,” he said. “Unfortunately, they crossed our borders illegally. We are not happy about that, but there is a law.”
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the charges were baseless and called for the release of the three.
“We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever,” she told reporters in Berlin. “And we would renew our request on behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them, so they can return home.”
