Case of Iranian detainees in US, unrelated to held Americans

Tehran, Aug 1, IRNA – A Foreign Ministry official stressed on Sunday that the case of the three Americans arrested in Iran are not related whatsoever with that of the Iranian detainess held in the US.

The three Americans are currently under detention in Iran for illegal entry into the country's territory on July 31, 2009.

“Iran has strongly rejected any link between the two cases and calls for providing humanitarian situation based on international standards for the Iranians held in the US,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast told reporters.

He said a number of Iranians were arrested in the US only for political motivations.

Mehman-Parast called for the "immediate release" of the Iranian detainees in the US.

He stressed that the three Americans should be accountable "before the court of law, like anyone else, as they committed a clear offense (illegal entry into the Iranian territory)."

“Other charges against them including acting against Iran's national security or having the intention to do so are under investigation by related bodies,” the spokesman said.

He stressed that the case of the three Americans “are merely judicial and would be followed up based on judiciary laws and regulations.”

Mehman-Parast stated, “Any effort to influence the legal procedure of the three Americans’ case through exerting political or media pressures which is currently underway in some of the European cities will have no effect on Iran’s independent judicial system.”

The spokesman added that Tehran has, so far, provided many opportunities for the US detainees based on “Islamic and humanitarian considerations” including allowing them to visit their mothers in best conditions and have phone contacts with their families as well as arranging a visit by the Swiss ambassador to Tehran.

The Swiss Embassy in Tehran acts as the protecting power of the US interests in the Islamic Republic./end