TEHRAN, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- The Iranian foreign ministry condemned U.S. media for coverage of the arrests of three U.S. hikers who crossed into Iran from Iraq.
Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said U.S. media employed double standard in their outcry over the three hikers' arrests, the Iranian Labor News Agency reported Tuesday.
"U.S. officials and (media) created propaganda over (the) illegal crossing of three Americans," Qashqaiv said. "While Iranian diplomats (were) detained in Arbil, Iraq, these media made no effort."
Deputy Foreign Minister for U.S. Affairs Ali Reza Salari said the reason for the three Americans crossing the border remained under investigation, ILNA reported.
Joshua Fattal, 27; Shane Bauer, 27; and Sarah Shourd, 31, were detained by Iranian forces in August after they trekked into Iran from Iraq's Kurdistan region.
"Given the sensitivities of the time and the place they were arrested, the investigation is on to see the real reason for why they came to the Islamic republic. It is a time-consuming matter," Salari said after meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Iran Livia Leu Agosti.
Because the United States has no diplomatic presence in Iran, the Swiss mission represents U.S. interests.
