Iran Accuses 3 U.S. Hikers of Espionage

Unclear if Formal Charges Brought Against Trio Detained in July; Clinton Again Calls for Hikers' Freedom

(CBS/AP)  Last Updated 9:39 a.m. ET

A senior Iranian prosecutor said three Americans detained on the border with Iraq have been accused of espionage.

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.

Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi said the three "have been accused of espionage" 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 whether formal charges had been made, but such announcements are often a sign that charges are imminent if not already filed. In Iran's opaque judicial system, the process of indictment and trial often takes place behind closed doors.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton again called on Iran to release Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, where she is marking the 20-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Clinton said, "We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever.

"And we would renew our request on behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them, so they can return home."

Clinton, who met last week with the detained hikers' families at the State Department, said the U.S. would continue to make that case through the Swiss channels who represent U.S. interests in Tehran.

The timing of the announcement from Tehran raised the possibility that Iran was using the case to pressure the United States amid the negotiations over its nuclear program.

Iran is also holding another American, academic Kian Tajbakhsh, who was arrested amid Iran's postelection turmoil and was sentenced last month to 12 years in prison for an alleged role in opposition protests.

In January, Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi was arrested in Tehran, was convicted of espionage, then released on appeal in May. Two months later, U.S. forces in Iraq freed five Iranians who they had been holding for months.

[virginiacbsuser]

After a cursory search at kayak.com, it appears that, not only can one NOT fly from LAX to Baghdad, one cannot fly from Ankara or Damascus to Baghdad. I doubt Americans can just hire a car and drive with large backpacks over the Syrian border into Iraq. So tell me, how EXACTLY do 3 Americans not only decide to go hiking (of all things) in Northern Iraq, but do they GET THERE if they are not working for the CIA?
To get into Iraq through Israel, they would have to cross all of Iraq to get to Iran, so, impossible. The same is true if they entered Iraq through Kuwait, and also through Saudi Arabia, which is even less likely than if they entered through Syria. The only possibility they are just hikers on vacation is if they crossed the mountains in far southeastern Turkey on foot, and then unknowingly hiked through Kurdistan and accidentally got too close to Iran and got caught. As I type that I realize how ridiculous even that scenario is. This is all pretty easily determined by just going to mapquest.com and looking at a map of Iraq.
Really, THEY ARE SPIES. They got caught. They will more than likely be hung out to dry after some obligatory public handwringing by the administration because there's no other way to deal with them. They just look awfully young for spies, but maybe that's because I am getting old.

[edmundsingleton]

Here we go again. Again we have to spend diplomatic capital to free someone who danced to close to the fire. Enough already...

[eyesclosed]

To shakingmyhead - Do you really believe that the world is enraged over the three American hikers? Do you seriously believe that this is the cause of anti-Americanism abroad. I have travelled overseas recently and in my discussions with people, I can tell you that they have sympathy for the plight of the three young hikers. When they complain about the U.S. it usually relates to serious issues ie. economic issues, climate issues, etc.

[shakingmyhead]

I am embarrassed as a U.S. citizen by these three morons. This is a perfect example of why the greater part of the world at large despises Americans.

They need to repay the U.S. Government for the time and money wasted on their behalf.

[taryder]

Is this a joke or what??? A "hiking vacation" on the border of IRAN and IRAQ!! NOBODY is THAT stupid!

Certainly makes one wonder who or what is behind this.

[antoniof123]

Stupidy should be illegal that way these people would be in a US jail instead of an Iranian jail.

[jgg000015]

seriously, who is that dumb to go hiking on the iraq/iran border?
oh, the morons who went hiking on the south/north korea border!

[eyesclosed]

I find it so amusing to see Brianbwb's posts. You must feel good to know that you are the dumbest man alive. You probable have a read a far-left books that expose the U.S. government for many trangressions. Wake up you historical MORON! Every world power in history has engaged in deception, brutality and ruthlessness in attempting to maintain its power. Historically, if you compare the U.S. to most of the previous world powers, we would rank very low in terms of brutality. However, I would assume you have never read any history books of any kind based upon the garbage you wirte on this site.

[ToolMangler1]

He may well be a 'Muslim convert' almost ready to blow like Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. The more I read his comments, the more he seems to hate America and blame 'Everything' on our troops. He appears to be in denial of any wrong committed by Islamic terrorists.
People whom know him personally might do well to watch him closely..
I can see no other valid reason for such negativity than his race, (which he claims is Black).

[YrStillWrong]

I think that some folks here pure scum, and this is the best they have ever been.

[bubbadubba]

As Moses said in the movie "let my people go!"

[stevex47]

Based on their past of kidnapping/hostage taking, lying about nuclear aspirations...I dont think the iranians are really interested in abiding by any laws.

They need to be taught how to behave.

[brianbwb-2009]

Are you perchance from the US, the country that lies about kidnapping, rendition, torture, hostage taking ("...Two months later, U.S. forces in Iraq freed five Iranians who they had been holding for months...") and lies about other countries nuclear aspirations? (Auntie Condoleeza and her "Iraq mushroom cloud soup" springs immediately to mind...)

Your post is very droll, and works if extreme sarcasm is what you were going for, but it also is in line with the claptrap that many Americans actually (and hypocritically) believe.

We are certainly not the one to pass any judgment on those matters.

[kevboom]

Umm, excuse me but why would anyone be vacationing/hiking along the border of Iran and Iraq in the current middle eastern climate? If they aren't detained for espionage, I suggest detaining them for stupidity. Geez Louise, if you want a middle eastern experience, enlist, or go to some relatively safe country like Turkey.

[ibsteve2u]

I feel sorry for the kids, certainly. But their parents should be slapped, too.

Hard to believe that somebody could grow up post-Iran hostage crisis and think the Iranian border was a good place to wander around.

[lovenpeace1]

Folks,

I think these University kids are going to climb the mountains near and around Rwandan and Darfur in Africa to study the wild Gorillas and Chimpanzee after they are released from Iran.

[lovenpeace1]

by Harden_Tar November 9, 2009 10:56 AM EST
I am amazed that out of all the places in the world these morons could go hiking around in, they decided to go to one country that pretty much hates Americans and wandered into one that REALLY HATES Americans. They were on vacation, not on some kind of working expedition. They could have gone anywhere. Where were they going next? North Korea?..."

*******************

Hey Harden_Tar,

I am in agreement with Americans that these kids are plain Idiots. Imagine what foreigners think about these American kids.

For there next vacation, these kids should visit the Fort Hood base in Texas. I mean where else would be more dangerous.

[ToolMangler1]

anywhere that extremist exist........ mostly in the Islamic countries....

[excoachken]

At risk of sounding like I am blaming the victim, I love to travel internationally, but I would surely have a GPS of some sort if I were going for a walk near the border of a country ruled by crazies!

[ekucrew]

by Ms_enza November 9, 2009 10:39 AM EST
Census Taker Killed in Kentucky...

Ya know, ya might have something there...

The so-called murder of the census worker is now under investigation as a possible suicide, based on evidence at scene and on the deceased.
http://www.kentucky.com/522/story/1007379.html

[ekucrew]

Summer Choice # 1 - Rent a house at the beach with some friends. Get a non-descript summer job. Eat boiled shrimp, party, play beach volleyballand drink.

Summer Choice # 2 - Get some friends together and hike in middle eastern countries. Take along a compass.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Nice.

[YrStillWrong]

Folks,

I think that sharia law requires the execution and public cannibalization of these hitch hikers. When you were at the madrassa, what did they teach you about it? And, oh yeah, I forgot to mention GWB.

[brianbwb-2009]

Just shows how little you actually do know.

[YrStillWrong]

I know more than any agent provocateur, agit-prop monkey, traitor, imbecile, coward or mystic. How's that for starters? And I pity, I really do pity, some luckless saps who are working that side of the street. Their damaged little game belongs in the dirt pile of history.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Why is it that Iran, or anyone in the middle east is accusing the americans of things against their country?

[Dr-Jack-Shepard]

If 3 Iranian walked in to America without visa all hell would break out.

If 3 Iranians would have tried to walk into Israel they would have been killed before they even crossed the border; no questions asked.

Put the blame where it belongs what are THESE THREE AMERICAN morans doing walking into Iran without a Visa's!

Al they are doing is making very much work for many people in Iran and outside to help correct THEIR MORAN WRONG BEHAVIOR.

BUT THE BLAME 100% ON THEIR SHOULDERS WHERE IT BELONGS

DR. JACK SHEPARD