Iran charges Australians of spying, who earlier visited Pakistan

TEHRAN: Iranian Judiciary spokesperson has confirmed to charge three Australian citizens of spying on Tuesday.

The Australians were detained earlier after they were caught taking the pictures of prohibited sites by using a drone. The detained Australians include a travel blogging couple and a Melbourne based academician. 

Gholamhossein Esmaili, the spokesperson of the Iranian Judiciary told reporters on Tuesday, the two Australians were allegedly using a drone to take pictures of forbidden military sites. Whereas, the third Australian is accused of spying for an unnamed country.

“This is true. These individuals have been detained in two cases and indictments have been issued for both,” stated Gholamhossein Emaili

It is the first public statement from the State officials after the trio were detained by the Iranian Authorities

“Criminal charges have been issued for both cases and they are waiting for their trial,” Esmaili said. “It will be the court that rules if they are guilty and need to be sentenced or whether to issue another verdict.”

It was the first official confirmation that Australians have been detained in Iran after the families of three of them said last week they had been arrested in Iran several weeks ago.

They identified them as a travel-blogging couple Jolie King and Mark Firkin and Melbourne University lecturer Kylie Moore-Gilbert.

 It is highly believed that the charged Australians were camping in a military area around Jajrood in Tehran province.

The Times reported that the academic had been sentenced to 10 years in prison and was being held in solitary confinement, according to  Guardian.

Around 10 weeks ago, the bloggers were visiting Pakistan for documenting their travel blogs called, The way overland.