An Iranian-American journalist accused in Iran of spying for the United States has been jailed for eight years, her lawyer said today, five days after she was put on trial.
An Iranian judiciary official, quoted by the ISNA news agency, confirmed the sentencing of Roxana Saberi, a US-born freelance reporter who has worked for the BBC and National Public Radio (NPR).
US president Barack Obama was "deeply disappointed" by Iran's decision to sentence Ms Saberi on spying charges, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
"His thoughts and prayers are with her and her family," Mr Gibbs told reporters. "I think we will continue to express the concerns that we have through the Swiss to the Iranian government and make sure they underscore and understand our deep concern for these actions."
He declined to answer a question on how the case might affect relations with Iran, saying only "What we think is important is that the situation be remedied."
The sentencing comes as Washington is seeking to engage Iran on a range of issues.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton also said she was very disappointed by the sentencing and would raise the case with Tehran.
Ms Saberi's jailing could become a source of US-Iranian tension at a time when Washington is trying to reach out to the Islamic Republic following three decades of mutual mistrust.
The judiciary earlier this week said Saberi went on trial on Monday at a Revolutionary Court, which handles security cases.
"She has been sentenced to eight years ... I will appeal," lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi said.
ISNA quoted the unnamed judiciary official as saying: "Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced Roxana Saberi to eight years for espionage. She can appeal the sentence."
Her father, Reza Saberi, told the NPR that his daughter had been coerced into statements that she later retracted.
"She was deceived," he said. "She is quite depressed about this matter and she wants to go on a hunger strike. And if she does, she is so frail it can be very dangerous to her health."
The United States has called the charges against Saberi "baseless" and demanded her immediate release.
"I am deeply disappointed by the reported sentencing of Roxana Saberi by the Iranian judiciary," said Ms Clinton in a statement released by the State Department in Washington.
"We will continue to vigorously raise our concerns to the Iranian government," added Ms Clinton. She said she was working closely with Swiss interlocutors who handle US interests in Iran to get details about Ms Saberi's court decision and to ensure her "well being".
NPR chief executive Vivian Schiller said in a statement: "We are deeply distressed by this harsh and unwarranted sentence."
Ms Saberi (31), who is a citizen of both the United States and Iran, was arrested in January for working in Iran after her press credentials had expired.
Her parents visited her in Tehran's Evin jail on April 6th, after arriving from the United States. Evin is a jail where rights groups say political prisoners are usually taken.
According to a website set up to campaign for her release, freeroxana.net, Saberi moved to Iran six years ago.
She grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, and holds Masters Degrees in Journalism and International Relations. She was chosen Miss North Dakota in 1997, the website says.
Washington cut ties with Iran shortly after the Islamic revolution in 1979 but US President Barack Obama has offered a new beginning of diplomatic engagement on a range of issues if Tehran "unclenches its fist".
Iran says it wants to see a real switch in Washington's policies away from those of former president George W. Bush, who led a drive to isolate the country because of nuclear work the West suspects has military aims, a charge Iran denies.
One Iranian analyst said Ms Saberi's sentencing should not be seen as a sign of Iran rebuffing Washington's overture, but that she had been in the "wrong place at the wrong time."
The sentence was likely to be commuted or reduced in a higher court, said the analyst, who declined to be named.
Paris-based media rights group Reporters Without Borders this week said Iran used the espionage charge to "arrest journalists and tighten the muzzle on free expression."
Iran denies such accusations and says it respects freedom of speech based on Islamic rules.
Reuters