TEHRAN – Iran has charged three detained Australians with spying, ajudiciary spokesman said on Tuesday, after the reported arrest of atravel-blogging couple and an academic.
Two of the Australians were alleged to have used a drone to take picturesof military sites, while a third was accused of spying for another country,spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told reporters.
It was the first official confirmation that Australians have been detainedin Iran after the families of three of them said last week they had beenarrested in the Islamic republic.
They identified them as a travel-blogging couple Jolie King and Mark Firkinand Melbourne University lecturer Kylie Moore-Gilbert.
“The news is correct,” Esmaili said in a video posted on the statetelevision website, adding the matter involved two separate cases.
“One case is of two people taking photos of military sites and ourforbidden areas,” the judiciary spokesman said.
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The pair had been identified at the time and images were found on a dronethey were using, he added. The other case involved an individual accused of“spying for another country”, said Esmaili.
“Criminal charges have been issued for both cases and they are waiting fortheir trial,” he said. “It will be the court that rules if they are guiltyand need to be sentenced or whether to issue another verdict.”
It is unclear from official sources in Iran when the three Australians werearrested and where they are being held. The arrested Australian couple alsovisited Pakistan before coming to Iran. -APP/AFP
