Next trial of US Infiltrated Spies in July

The next trial session of the three US nationals detained in Iran on charges of illegal entry and espionage is to be held on July 31, 2011, says the lawyer of the three.

The third trial session will be held in Tehran’s Revolution Court on July 31, their lawyer Masoud Shafiee told on Monday.

Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd were detained in July 2009 after illegally crossing the border into Iran from the mountains of northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

The Tehran Prosecutor’s office says it has compelling evidence that the three were collaborating with US intelligence agencies.

Iran released Shourd on a bail of $500,000 in September 2010, 14 months after her arrest. The decision was taken on humanitarian grounds due to her illness.

Shourd was not present at the first and second sessions of the trial; however, her lawyer submitted a statement on her behalf.

Responding to a question on whether Shourd has been summoned for the third hearing, the lawyer of the three US nationals said her presence has not been stressed.

Shafiee also pointed out that Shourd has not presented a statement for the July hearing.