An Iranian security official has confirmed the arrest of three Americans for "illegal entry" into Iran near the border with Iraq and said they are being interrogated.
The detentions came as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Tehran over its nuclear drive and amid deep political turmoil in Iran following the president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in June.
"These three people whose identity is not known yet were arrested on the Malakh-Khor border near the town of Marivan," Iraj Hassanzadeh, the deputy governor of Iran's Kordestan province, told the Fars news agency.
"Anyone who seeks to illegally enter the country from the Kordestan border will be arrested," he said, referring to an area near the frontier with the Kurdish area of northern Iraq.
US media have identified the trio who went missing on Saturday while backpacking in the rugged mountains between Iraq and Iran as Shane Bauer, Sara Shourd and Joshua Fattal, all in their mid-20s.
Mr Hassanzadeh told Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam television that the three were arrested "four days ago and are being interrogated".
He told Fars the detainees had Syrian and Iraqi visas and "they have made no confessions yet".
The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on Iran to ensure their safe return.
Switzerland, which in the absence of US-Iranian diplomatic relations represents American interests in Iran, had been asked to help track them down, she added.
*AFP
Fight card
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2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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