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Detained US-Iranians interviewed | Detained US-Iranians interviewed |
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Iranian state TV has broadcast a programme based on interviews with two Iranian-American academics who have been detained in Tehran since May. | Iranian state TV has broadcast a programme based on interviews with two Iranian-American academics who have been detained in Tehran since May. |
Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh are being held on suspicion of spying and endangering Iranian national security. | Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh are being held on suspicion of spying and endangering Iranian national security. |
The academics could face the death penalty if charged and found guilty. | The academics could face the death penalty if charged and found guilty. |
Correspondents say the documentary, In the Name of Democracy, was an apparent attempt to implicate them in a plot to destabilise the government in Tehran. | Correspondents say the documentary, In the Name of Democracy, was an apparent attempt to implicate them in a plot to destabilise the government in Tehran. |
The programme also included an interview with Ramin Jahanbaglou, an Iranian-Canadian who has been told he cannot leave the country. | The programme also included an interview with Ramin Jahanbaglou, an Iranian-Canadian who has been told he cannot leave the country. |
Comfortable surroundings | Comfortable surroundings |
The pictures of Ms Esfandiari and Mr Tajbakhsh in the documentary aired on Wednesday were the first of the two since they were detained two months ago. | The pictures of Ms Esfandiari and Mr Tajbakhsh in the documentary aired on Wednesday were the first of the two since they were detained two months ago. |
The programme alternated between their interviews and dramatic pictures of recent revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia to suggest there was a US-led plot to overthrow the Iranian government. | |
Kian Tajbakhsh is a social scientist with the Open Society Institute | Kian Tajbakhsh is a social scientist with the Open Society Institute |
However, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says they did not make anything like a confession. | However, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says they did not make anything like a confession. |
The academics talked mostly about academic conferences in the US, to which leading Iranians had been invited. | The academics talked mostly about academic conferences in the US, to which leading Iranians had been invited. |
"The aim of the Iran programme was to plan sessions of lectures," Ms Esfandiari said in her interview. | "The aim of the Iran programme was to plan sessions of lectures," Ms Esfandiari said in her interview. |
"When people came to the US for lectures, policymakers listened to their lectures... and a network was formed." | "When people came to the US for lectures, policymakers listened to their lectures... and a network was formed." |
Interviewed in comfortable surroundings, the two looked in relatively good health. | Interviewed in comfortable surroundings, the two looked in relatively good health. |
Our correspondent says that more may emerge in the in the second episode of the documentary to be broadcast on Thursday. | Our correspondent says that more may emerge in the in the second episode of the documentary to be broadcast on Thursday. |
What is not clear, he adds, is whether this is a prelude to the academics being charged, or perhaps a way of preparing for negotiations or even their release. | What is not clear, he adds, is whether this is a prelude to the academics being charged, or perhaps a way of preparing for negotiations or even their release. |
The US has rejected the allegations against those being held. | The US has rejected the allegations against those being held. |