Iran Accuses 3 Detained Americans Of Espionage

TEHRAN, Iran — A senior Iranian prosecutor says three Americans detained on the border with Iraq have been accused of espionage.

Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi says the three "have been accused" and that investigations were continuing, according to the state news agency IRNA. He said an "opinion (on their case) will be given in the not distant future."

It is not clear from his comments Monday whether formal charges had been filed. In Iran's opaque judicial system, the process of charging and trial can often take place behind closed doors.

The three Americans were arrested July 31 after straying over the Iranian border from northern Iraq. The U.S. government and their families say there were on a hiking vacation and crossed accidentally.

Comments

[S1m0n]

If I was Iran, I'd assume they were spies, too. It's already on the record that special forces and others are being deployed in Iran, and that they are entering via the Iraqi border. If these three really were 'hiking', doing so there was as stupid as going hunting with Dick Cheney.

[grind88]

I bet the friendly guards at Evin prison are being real gentle with the "spies" during interrogation. This is where the Bush/Cheney idea of enhanced interrogation to extract phony confessions really kicks Americans in thegroin. There are no longer any valid, non-hypocritical arguments as to why foreign regimes can't just capture and torture american citizens. Bush and the gang showed everyone that it's okay if it's a matter of national security. Well, guess what, Iran just found themselves a few american spies and now they plan to protect that national security.

Thanks again mr. Bush.

[Durango]

You got that 100% correct. Well, not about the spy part. But the rest.

What kind of treatment do you suppose the Iranians being held by the US are receiving?

[lisa010]

ALthough these young adults should have known better, the good part about young adults is that they think they are invincible, smarter than anyone else and basic rules don't apply to them, while the bad part about young adults is that they think they are invincible, smarter than anyone else and basic rules don't apply to them.

Obviously, as we don't have a zillion young adult travelers in Iranian custody, it's pretty safe to say that most young adults travelers are indeed smarter then this crew.

[Nicholas Roy]

This clear posturing by the Iranian Regime. They're trying to get back two officials; one nuke scientist, and a former Deputy Defence Minister, they claim were kidnapped by the CIA while abroad. The thing is the CIA claims they defected to the West. Makes it kinda difficult if they actually did defect. If the CIA kidnapped them fine, easy enough to trade up, nothing new there. However if they did indeed defect we'd be sending them back to be executed in that senario. But we can't just leave our citizens to rot in Evin Prison either. What to do what to do?

[Durango]

I think you are essentuially correct. But there are Iranians being held in Iraq as well.

I think these 3 Americans are pawns in a very big game.

And I think this just might allow the Iranians cover to negotiate with America. And hopefully develop some trust between the negotiators.

Like I said earlier, I expect these folks will be released within 6 months in a manner designed to make the Iranian Government look good.

Ahmedinijad needs some foreign policy successes to increase his legitimacy at home. This will play a part.

[sachazg]

I heard the guide was paid to misguide them. I've traveled and had similar weird offers. Iran is just excited to have a pawn... Send them home Iran and negotiate yourself into the future. Its time to join the world like china did. Salam

[vascopyjama]

Maybe Bill Clinton can do another 'Personal' trip and bring these young Americans home.

[lonesometx]

They entered Iran illegally. Don't republicans want to punish people who enter the US illegally? So, shouldn't republicans be happy that Iran is enforcing it's immigration laws?

Perhaps in the republician world it's only brown people who should be punished for entering a country illegally.

[winstonian22]

Sooo..you;re in favor of everyone breaking the law....?

[Khirad]

Whether or not they were CIA agents, the treatment would be the same by the IRI. Leverage. Thus, to know for certain that they were CIA based on Iranian propaganda or our shady history with Iran (and theirs with us) is disingenuous. It is not without the realm of possibility, but the CIA would have surely known that the Revolutionary Guards patrol (and cross the border themselves from time to time) that border with ultimate scrutiny, due to regular Kurdish civilians, the historical tension between the Kurdish Province and Tehran, and yes, most importantly, smuggling and US-backed Kurdish militant groups like PJAK.

For this to be the master plan of the CIA (and to accomplish what, exactly? Get out your maps boys and girls, we already have actual Kurds on America's payroll), begs a few questions. I'm not 100% sure they're innocent, but require a little more convincing than just knee-jerk judgments from people "less than stellar" with Iranian geography and the government's perennial modus operandi. Regardless of status, it still does not change the fact that Iran would receive them like a gift from Allah either way. Now they have more cards to play in negotiations. They do this periodically, people, it's nothing new.

To me they are innocent until proven guilty. Something you won't likely get from Iran's obscurantist judicial system. If I am confident of one thing, it's that they were guilty of being overconfident, carefree, and curious young adults.

[rissole]

Something very odd about the whole thing. Why would a group of young Americans think it was a good idea to go to Iraq while there was a war on and then think it was okay to go trekking on the Iranian border?

[praxitas]

like the 'contractors' who crashed into the colombian jungle and were captured by the rebels a few years ago.

[noweknow]

Agent Maxwell Smart and his female colleague Agent 99

[noweknow]

And the 40 years old virgin.

[hottingers]

If they weren't spies they were some of the stoopidest people in the world. There should be consequences for either. In the US there are no cosequences for being incredibly stoopid and that is why we have to deal with the Rep. party.

[phazeroftruth]

truth. people should know by now not to get close to that border if they dont want to be in jail for a few weeks or months for no reason and/or get beheaded

[Chili4me]

That's hillarious considering these morons are likely liberals.

If there is a party of no consequences that is absolutely Democrats, the party of handouts and wellfare.

You need to losen your beret and stop drinking so much coffee, it's making ou crazy

[Chili4me]

They probably just thought they could say that they voted for obama for president and everyone would zombie chant and let them go.

St.up.idasss liberals

[lawdood]

only thing St.up.id here is your post. Is the Drudge page missing you yet?

[fuelie]

If they didn't have a GPS that told them they were in Iran instead of Iraq, then there is no case. It was nothing more than an innocent accidental crossing and Iran's leadership is just full of hot air, blowing smoke to stir up more trouble.

[Chili4me]

I'll give you one guess where they don't care what your GPS says, and where you don't make that mistake.

[Durango]

Personally I wish more Americans would travel and hike in Kurdistan and Iran and report back on their experiences.

Because then maybe, just maybe, Americans would learn about the region.

Something that, judging from the posts on this site, Americans clearly need.

[dogman44]

Yeah. All my Iraqi Vet friends talk about duty in the Kurdish north like it was a form
of R&R. They all tell me it was peaceful and friendly there. I've never heard any of
them say that about the rest of Iraq.

[Khirad]

Indeed. I'm taking bets on how soon they declare independence after we leave.

[Liberty3]

Enough with the unjust imprisonment and show trials, Iran. You're games are ineffective and pathetic.

[CalebAbell]

The only way to get the truth from these CIA grunts is enhanced interrogation. Hopefully, after being water boarded a few dozen times, they will admit what they were doing.

Remember, it's not torture . . . because we said so.