State Department weighs in on Iran spy trial

The State Department voiced concern Thursday about the secret trial in Iran of an American journalist on espionage charges, calling it "baseless" and saying her release could aid U.S.-Iranian relations.

Journalist Roxana Saberi, shown working in Iran in 2004, is accused of spying in the country.

Acting department spokesman Robert Wood confirmed Iranian reports that Roxana Saberi went on trial in Iran earlier this week on charges of spying. According to the reports, Iranian authorities said she has confessed.

"We've been very concerned about the transparency of this judicial process," Wood said. "And we call on the Iranians to provide as much information as they can to us about Roxana Saberi."

Saberi's trial began Monday and her lawyer has completed his defense, a spokesman for the judiciary, Ali Reza Jamshidi, told reporters. According to the semiofficial Mehr News Agency, Jamshidi said the verdict should be delivered within a few weeks. Full News