More Investigations into The Case Are Underway

Tehran, Dec. 14, 09 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Iranian officials announced the three arrested Americans who crossed the Iraqi border into Iranian Kurdistan will stand trial. Based on latest reports the Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said the trio who were supposedly hiking between Iraq and Iran had ‘suspicious intentions’ by crossing the border.

 

In late July this year, three young Americans, Shane Bauer, Joshua Felix Fattal and Sarah Emily crossed from Iraq into Iran at a checkpoint near the town of Marivan in Kurdistan Province. According to their claims, the three friends were hiking in the area and were unaware that they actually crossed the border.

 

In 2002 Iraq was invaded by tens of thousands of US military personnel as well as tens of thousand of private military contractors. The area around the Kurdistan region inside Iraq could be considered as a dangerous place for non-natives to go about pleasure hiking.

 

An Iranian Judiciary official, Tehran Prosecutor – General Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi said in November the three Americans could be charged with espionage while further investigations into the case are underway.

 
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appealed for the release of the Americans by saying, ‘…we appeal to the Iranian leadership to release these three young people and free them as soon as possible.