Mottaki: Mothers of 3 arrested Americans can visit Iran

Tehran, May 11, IRNA – Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Monday night that Iran would grants visas to the mothers of the 3 arrested American citizens, in the name of humanity, to visit the country.

Mottaki who was speaking at the Special News Talk section of the IRIB Channel 3 Late News edition, said, “The matter had been proposed in Tehran prior to the New York NPT Review Conference and due to humanitarian concerns it was agreed that visas would be issued for the mothers of the three people so that they would be able to visit their sons and daughter.

Pointing out that the order for the issuance of their visas is given to the representative office of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New York, Mottaki reiterated that “the mothers of these three people can refer to the Iranian Consular Office in New York and receive their visas to visit Iran.”

Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, and Josh Fattal (whose parents live in Elkins Park) were arrested in July after straying across the border from Iraq and illegally entering Iran territory.

Documents prove that the trio intended to spy after crossing the border illegally, according to the statements of concerned Iranian officials.

Their relatives and the US government have denied the accusations of espionage, claiming they are merely mountaineers and have called for their release.

Foreign news dispatches, including the AFP covered this part of Mottaki's statement, moments after they were aired on IRIB last night./end