*SYDNEY: *Two Australians detained in Iran were named on Thursday as atravel-blogging couple who were arrested while making an overland trip fromtheir home country to Britain.
Perth-based Jolie King and Mark Firkin had been documenting their journeyon social media for the past two years but went silent after postingupdates from Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan about 10 weeks ago.
“Our families hope to see Mark and Jolie safely home as soon as possible,”a statement released on behalf of their families said.
Australia first revealed on Wednesday that three of its citizens had beenseized by authorities in Tehran.
The Times of London reported the third person was a British-Australianacademic who studied at Cambridge University and was working as a lecturerin Australia when she was arrested in Iran nearly a year ago.
News of the arrests came after Australia announced it would join a US-ledmission to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with tensionshigh in the Gulf region.
The Times also reported that King and the other woman were being held inTehran’s Evin prison and that one of them had been told she was being heldas part of a plan to facilitate a prisoner swap.
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Already difficult relations between Iran and the US – and American allies –have threatened to boil over since President Donald Trump abandoned a dealto limit Tehran’s nuclear programme in 2018 and Iran resumed someproscribed nuclear activities.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last month announced a “modest”Australian contribution to the US-led Gulf mission – including a frigate, aP8 maritime surveillance aircraft and support staff – which will alsoinvolve British forces.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providingconsular assistance to the detained trio and has urged Australians toreconsider travelling to Iran.
Earlier this week, the Australian government updated its travel advice forIran to “reconsider your need to travel” and “do not travel” to areas nearthe border with Iraq and Afghanistan.
It was not immediately clear if any of the three have been charged. -APP/AFP
