3 detained Americans hikers to face trial in Iran

Iran says it will try three Americans jailed for crossing the border from Iraq in late July.

At a joint news conference with his visiting Azer-baijani counterpart, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the three Americans will be "tried by Iran's judiciary system and judiciary verdicts." Mottaki claimed the Americans had "suspicious aims," without giving further details.

The Iranian authorities accused the Americans of spying in November. Relatives and the US government insist that the three are innocent tourists, who were on an adventure hike in northern Iraq, and accidentally crossed into Iran.

Missing American hiker Josh Fattal (R) is seen here with his mother  Laura Fattal in this undated photo released by freethehikers.org,  August 20, 2009. Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd have  been detained in Iran since July 31, when the trio inadvertently  strayed across the border on a hiking excursion in Iraq, their  family members said.