ID :
209941
Wed, 09/28/2011 - 11:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/209941
The shortlink copeid
Iran Rejects Claims by Freed American Spies
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Foreign Ministry denied the claims of the two American spies who were freed by Iran last week that they had been held because of their nationality.
Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were arrested along with Sarah Shourd after they crossed Iran-Iraq border illegally in 2009.
They were found guilty of illegal entry and espionage and were sentenced last month to eight years in prison.
Iran released the men last week on $500,000 bail for each.
Shourd was released on $500,000 bail a year ago.
"Their detention was due to illegal entry and espionage and it had nothing to do with their nationality or the existing political issues between the Iranian and American governments," Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi was quoted as saying by state television.
After arriving in New York on Sunday, Bauer and Fattal said the case against them was a "total sham" and "the only explanation for our prolonged detention is the 32 years of mutual hostility between America and Iran".
Washington broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran after the country's 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed Shah.
The Swiss embassy represents US interests in Tehran.
Qashqavi said during their detention, the pair had "enjoyed all the rights of a prisoner and even more".
Meantime, the lawyer of the two American nationals also categorically denied the accusations raised by the two against Tehran after their return to the US.
Speaking to FNA, Massoud Shafi'ee said that Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal's claims about mistreatment of prisoners in Iran's prisons "are not true".
Shafi'ee underlined that the two had never been tortured, and said if they had been tortured or mistreated in prison they could have raised the issue during their hearing sessions.
He blasted the US nationals for their politically tainted claims, and stated, "If my clients contact me, as an Iranian national, I will definitely inform them of my protest at their baseless claims."
"Why have they made such allegations when their problem has been resolved and they have left the country?" the lawyer asked.
He reminded that similar accusations were raised by Sarah Shourd last year after she was released by Iran on bail. "But, Shourd later rejected the media reports about her remarks and said that her words have been misinterpreted."
Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were arrested along with Sarah Shourd after they crossed Iran-Iraq border illegally in 2009.
They were found guilty of illegal entry and espionage and were sentenced last month to eight years in prison.
Iran released the men last week on $500,000 bail for each.
Shourd was released on $500,000 bail a year ago.
"Their detention was due to illegal entry and espionage and it had nothing to do with their nationality or the existing political issues between the Iranian and American governments," Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi was quoted as saying by state television.
After arriving in New York on Sunday, Bauer and Fattal said the case against them was a "total sham" and "the only explanation for our prolonged detention is the 32 years of mutual hostility between America and Iran".
Washington broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran after the country's 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed Shah.
The Swiss embassy represents US interests in Tehran.
Qashqavi said during their detention, the pair had "enjoyed all the rights of a prisoner and even more".
Meantime, the lawyer of the two American nationals also categorically denied the accusations raised by the two against Tehran after their return to the US.
Speaking to FNA, Massoud Shafi'ee said that Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal's claims about mistreatment of prisoners in Iran's prisons "are not true".
Shafi'ee underlined that the two had never been tortured, and said if they had been tortured or mistreated in prison they could have raised the issue during their hearing sessions.
He blasted the US nationals for their politically tainted claims, and stated, "If my clients contact me, as an Iranian national, I will definitely inform them of my protest at their baseless claims."
"Why have they made such allegations when their problem has been resolved and they have left the country?" the lawyer asked.
He reminded that similar accusations were raised by Sarah Shourd last year after she was released by Iran on bail. "But, Shourd later rejected the media reports about her remarks and said that her words have been misinterpreted."
