TEHRAN - A top provincial official on Tuesday announced that three US citizens have been arrested by Iranian forces after crossing Iran-Iraq borders illegally.

 

"The three, whose identities have yet to be determined, were arrested on Malakh Khor border near (Iran' western city of) Marivan," Deputy Governor of Iran's Kurdistan province for Political and Security Affairs Iraj Hassanzadeh told FNA.

"They are under custody right now," Hassanzadeh noted, rejecting media claims that the three have been interrogated. He pointed out that the three middle-aged Americans had Syria and Iraq's entry visas.

The official further warned against any attempt to cross Iranian borders illegally, saying, "Anyone willing to cross Kurdistan borders (to enter Iran) illegally will be arrested."

The three US nationals - identified by the US media as Shane Bower, Sara Short and Joshua Steel - were arrested after crossing into Iran via Iraq's Kurdish region on Saturday.

Meantime, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday urged Iran to provide information about the three missing Americans.

 

 

Source: FNA

August 04,2009