TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday that the three Americans detained in Iran and charged with espionage will stand trial soon.

    "About the case of the three U.S. citizens who according to your (foreign media) reports are climbers, the judiciary will makea decision based on investigations," Mehmanparast told reporters at his weekly press conference, adding "we have got the news that they will be tried soon."

    The three Americans were detained last July after they strayed into Iran from northern Iraq. Later in November, they were charged with espionage and might face death penalty under Iran's Islamic law.

    The U.S. government considered the charges were totally unfounded and said the hikers should be freed.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said last month that the three Americans would be put on trial without giving a date.

    The United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. And recent years, the U.S. government and its allies have been accusing Iran of secretly seeking a nuclear bomb which Tehran denies.　

Iran to put detained Americans on trial

    TEHRAN, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday that the three detained Americans will be tried by the country's judiciary, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

    "Introgating the three U.S. citizens who have entered the country illegally with suspicious aims is underway," Mottaki told reporters.  Full story

Clinton calls for more pressure on Iran

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called on Monday for more pressure on Iran, to make the country yield and prove its nuclear programs are peaceful.

    Clinton said the United States' "outreach has produced very little in terms of any kind of a positive response" from Iran. Full story

Clinton urges Iran to free three detained Americans

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State HillaryClinton urged Iran Monday to free three detained Americans, saying allegations against them are unfounded.

    Clinton said Iranian charges against the three are "totally unfounded," saying they were "out hiking and ... allegedly walked across an unmarked boundary."  Full story