TEHRAN: The two US citizens arrested more than two years ago while
hiking along the Iraq-Iran border have been sentenced to eight years in
prison on charges that include espionage.
According to the
media reports, the announcement sent a hardline message from Iran’s
judiciary, which answers directly to the ruling clerics, weeks after
the Foreign Minister suggested that the trial of Shane Bauer and Josh
Fattal could clear the way for their freedom.
It also was
likely to raise speculation about Iran using the Americans as
bargaining chips and could bring added tensions to Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s expected visit to New York next month for the
UN’s annual General Assembly. Online
