Three Detained U.S. Citizens Being Accused of Espionage by Iran

The Associated Press is reporting that Iran continues to detain three American citizens, 27-year-old Shane Bauer, 27-year-old Josh Fattal and 31-year-old Sarah Shourd, who were arrested for crossing the border from Iraq on charges of espionage. Yesterday marked the 100th day of captivity for the three Americans and Iran's latest actions of charging them with espionage appear to be an indication that they plan on placing them on trial.

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton publicly called for the release of the three U.S. citizens in a message that she provided to reporters in Berlin, stating, "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."

Bauer, Fattal and Shourd all graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and according to their families they were partaking on a hiking vacation when they accidentally crossed over the Iranian border. According to The Associated Press, the U.S. government is echoing the sentiments of their parents and it plans on continuing to campaign for their release through Swiss channels. The charges of espionage come at a time when the U.S. and Tehran are in the midst of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.