Iran Jails Two For 10 Years For Spying

August 30, 2015

Iran has sentenced two people to 10 years in prison for spying for the United States and Israel, the judiciary spokesman has said. 

The spokesman, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejehi, did not provide the names but said on August 30 that the two were sentenced by a Revolutionary Court, which handles national security cases.

The lawyer for Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who was tried for espionage in a Revolutionary Court, said the case "has nothing to do with the case of my client."

Rezaian was arrested in July 2014, and reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently urged Iran to release Rezaian and two other jailed Americans, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati and Christian pastor Saeed Abedini.

August 29 marked the fourth anniversary of Hekmati's imprisonment on what Kerry called "false espionage charges" while Hekmati was visiting relatives in the Islamic republic.

Abedini is serving an eight-year prison term.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP