Iran’s intelligence minister accused three Americans jailed since crossing the border from Iraq in July of having links to US intelligence services, state TV reported.
The comments on Thursday toughened Iran’s accusations against the group, suggesting authorities could be close to bringing them to trial after months of mixed signals and fears in the US that they could be used as bargaining chips in Iran’s confrontation with the West.
Their families say the three were on a hike in the scenic Kurdish region of northern Iraq and unintentionally strayed across the border. Iran has accused them of spying and said it intends to bring them to trial.
Iran’s English-language satellite channel Press TV said Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi told the station in an exclusive interview that Tehran has “credible evidence” the three were linked to US intelligence. He did not elaborate but said the evidence would be revealed to news media soon.
It was the first time a senior official has said the three were tied to US intelligence.
Moslehi also warned neighboring countries against cooperating with US and Israeli intelligence, the report said.
Press TV briefly showed footage of the minister speaking but did not air his comments in full. Instead, a news anchor read out a summary of the main points.
In Washington, US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said he was not aware of the specific allegation but flatly denied the trio had anything to do with US intelligence.
“It’s not true,” he told reporters, without elaborating.
Josh Fattal, 27, Shane Bauer, 27, and Sarah Shourd, 31, were trekking in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region on July 31 when they accidentally crossed the border into Iran, their families said.
On Thursday, the families issued a joint statement calling the new allegations “totally unfounded.”
“Allegations that they are spies are ridiculous,” the statement read. “Our loved ones’ continued detention and the psychological stress they are made to endure are unjustified and we again appeal to Iran to allow them to return home.”
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