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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | ||
| US hikers held in Iran are spies: minister | ||
| 2010-05-20 | ||
| TEHRAN - Irans intelligence minister Wednesday accused three Americans hikers held in Iran for the past 10 months of being spies, just hours before their mothers are expected in Tehran, ISNA news agency reported. “Iran acted in accordance with Islamic teachings and in a humanitarian way,' Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi was quoted by the agency as saying, referring to a decision by Iran to grant visas for the mothers to travel to Tehran to see their children in prison. Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, were detained last July 31 after straying across Irans border in what they described as a mistake while on a hiking trip in northern Iraqs Kurdistan region. The trio are being held in Tehrans notorious Evin prison. Washington insists they are innocent and should be released. “Despite them being spies and entering Iran illegally, they were dealt with according to religious teachings and in a humanitarian way,' Moslehi said. “We have to see how the Americans will react towards the innocent Iranians kidnapped and transferred there,' he added.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had said in December that they faced charges of entering the country illegally. The three mothers were expected in Tehran Wednesday evening after being granted visas for Iran last week. Iran has given no official indication it is preparing to release the trio and simply arranging the visit by the mothers was considered a breakthrough in the impasse, one of many irritants in the US-Iranian relationship. The Swiss government, acting as go-between in the absence of US-Iranian diplomatic relations, had to broker the visit. | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 I wonder... one story I read said they were hiking in Kurdistan. It's possible Iran pulled a North Korea and darted across the border to kidnap truly innocent hikers who really hadn't ventured into Iran at all. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-05-20 18:28 |
| #6 Dead hikers walking. Barry will do nothing. Just me hunch. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-05-20 11:25 |
| #5 Stupidity that gross is often fatal. Mommas, don't let your kids grow up to be morons. |
| Posted by: mojo 2010-05-20 11:15 |
| #4 So they've already been beheaded, nice of them to clear that up for us. No, they were on television today being visited by their mothers, who went to Iran to petition for their release. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-05-20 10:55 |
| #3 Meh, it'd be news if he admitted that they aren't spies, as that'd vaporize any justification he'd have for his minions having kidnapped three tourists & imprisoned them in harsh conditions. The latter would be an admission of banditry on the part of his illegitimate and piratical regime. That'd be interesting. After all, the difference between signal and information is *expectation*. Surprise us, and you've told us something. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2010-05-20 09:25 |
| #2 ... they were dealt with according to religious teachings and in a humanitarian way. So they've already been beheaded, nice of them to clear that up for us. |
| Posted by: AzCat 2010-05-20 02:26 |
| #1 They are not spies. They are just stupid. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-05-20 01:53 |