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Iran sneers at U.S. care about jailing of two dual nationals

Xinhua, October 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iran is not concerned about the interfering remarks of U.S officials over the jail sentence of two Iranian-Americans on espionage charges, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Iran's judiciary announced that four Iranian nationals and two dual nationals were sentenced to 10 years in prison each over charges of espionage and collaboration with the U.S. administration.

Following the release of the news, the U.S. State Department said it was "deeply concerned" by reports of the sentencing and demanded the "immediate release" of the two Iranian-Americans by Iran.

The Iranian government and people attach no importance to the inquisitive rhetoric and excessive demands of U.S. officials, Qasemi was quoted as saying by Press TV on Wednesday.

The U.S. State Department is attempting to lend an international dimension to such domestic issues of Iran which is dealing with spying activities within its borders, he said.

Such threats would not only prove unconstructive, but also increase the Iranian nation's distrust of the United States, he added.

On Tuesday, Tehran prosecutor Abbas Ja'afari Dolatabadi identified two convicted Iranian-Americans as Siamak Namazi and his 80-year-old father Baquer Namazi.

Siamak Namazi was arrested in October 2015 and his father, Baqer Namazi, was detained in February this year.

Reportedly, Siamak formerly worked for the Sharjah-based oil and gas company Crescent Petroleum.

Baqer is a former Iranian provincial governor and served as a UNICEF representative in Somalia, Kenya, Egypt and other countries. Endit