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US 'deeply disappointed' as Iran convicts reporter
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-19 10:01

Saberi's conviction comes about two months ahead of key presidential elections in June that are pitting hard-liners against reformists who support better relations with the United States. Ahmadinejad is seeking re-election, but the hard-liner's popularity has waned as Iran's economy struggles with high-inflation and unemployment.

Some conservative Iranian lawmakers played down Saberi's conviction, saying the verdict would not affect any ongoing efforts to build trust between the United States and Iran.

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"Although there is a wall of mistrust between Iran and the United States, the judicial verdict won't affect possible future talks between the two countries. The verdict is based on evidence," said lawmaker Hosseini Sobhaninia.

Saberi's father disagreed, telling NPR, "I don't think they have any evidence and I haven't heard any evidence that they have made public."

Meanwhile, NPR said it was "deeply distressed by this harsh and unwarranted sentence."

Iranian officials initially said she had been arrested for working in the Islamic Republic without press credentials.

An Iranian investigative judge involved in the case later told TV that Saberi with passing classified information to US intelligence services.

Her parents, who traveled to Iran from their home in Fargo in a bid to help win their daughter's release, could not be reached by the AP for comment on Saturday.

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