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Iran jails journalist as US spy Iran jails journalist as US spy
(about 2 hours later)
An Iranian-American journalist branded a US spy has been jailed for eight years by Iran, her lawyer says. An Iranian-American journalist branded a US spy has been jailed for eight years by Iran after a brief trial held behind closed doors.
Roxana Saberi, 31, was arrested in January and went on trial this week. Roxana Saberi, 31, who was arrested in January and went on trial this week, denies the charge and plans to go on hunger strike, her father said.
She worked briefly for the BBC three years ago, and has also worked for the American public radio network NPR and the TV network Fox News. Ms Saberi once worked for the BBC and has also worked for the US broadcasters NPR radio and Fox News.
Ms Saberi originally faced the less serious accusation of buying alcohol, then of working as a journalist without a valid press card. The BBC voiced extreme concern at the "severe" sentence.
Her trial was held behind closed doors in front of Iran's Revolutionary Court. The journalist originally faced the less serious accusation of buying alcohol, then of working as a journalist without a valid press card.
"She has been sentenced to eight years ... I will appeal," Ms Saberi's lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi told the Reuters news agency. Her trial was held behind closed doors in front of Iran's Revolutionary Court. No evidence of espionage was made public.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Tehran, says there is a feeling everything has moved very quickly, but it is not known how long an appeals process might take. Ms Saberi's lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi and her father confirmed that an appeal would be made.
Reza Saberi told NPR radio that his daughter was weak and frail, and was accusing Iranian officials of having coerced and deceived her into making statements she later denied.
"She is quite depressed and wants to go on hunger strike," he said, adding that he was trying to persuade her against doing so.
He himself was not allowed to attend the trial and he said that Mr Khorramshahi had not been allowed to argue the case for the defence properly.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Tehran, says there is a feeling everything has moved very quickly but it is not known how long an appeals process might take.
US uneaseUS unease
The US has previously expressed its concern at Ms Saberi's detention, dismissing allegations against her as "baseless".The US has previously expressed its concern at Ms Saberi's detention, dismissing allegations against her as "baseless".
Ms Saberi was said to be careful about her public image in IranMs Saberi was said to be careful about her public image in Iran
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has demanded her release.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has demanded her release.
However, public awareness of Ms Saberi's situation is low in Iran, where local media do not seem to have reported her arrest or trial in any way, our correspondent says.However, public awareness of Ms Saberi's situation is low in Iran, where local media do not seem to have reported her arrest or trial in any way, our correspondent says.
A US-Iranian national, Ms Saberi has spent six years in Iran studying and writing a book.A US-Iranian national, Ms Saberi has spent six years in Iran studying and writing a book.
The daughter of an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, she was once crowned Miss North Dakota and and was among the top 10 finalists in Miss America 1998.The daughter of an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, she was once crowned Miss North Dakota and and was among the top 10 finalists in Miss America 1998.
She holds two master's degrees, from Northwestern University in the US and from Cambridge University, in the UK, and is currently studying for a third.She holds two master's degrees, from Northwestern University in the US and from Cambridge University, in the UK, and is currently studying for a third.
Her arrest and trial has coincided with speculation about a thaw in US-Iranian relations, with US President Barack Obama offering a dialogue with Tehran on a range of issues.Her arrest and trial has coincided with speculation about a thaw in US-Iranian relations, with US President Barack Obama offering a dialogue with Tehran on a range of issues.
In March Mr Obama recorded a video message in which he offered a "new beginning" to Iran and its people.In March Mr Obama recorded a video message in which he offered a "new beginning" to Iran and its people.