The two Americans who were arrested by the Iranian authorities for illegal entry to the Iranian territories and espionage were prosecuted and sentenced for eight years in prison.

The two Americans, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal,  who were arrested by the Iranian authorities for illegal entry to the Iranian territories and espionage were prosecuted and sentenced for eight years in prison.

The third accused, Sarah Shourd who was arrested along with them was released earlier on bail due to health problems, however, Iranian Chief Prosecutor Abbas Ja’fari Dolatabadi assured that her case was still open and she will be tried in absentia.

In a press conference he held Sunday, Dolatabadi said that the verdict can be appealed in 20 days, and clarified that the decision was specified as "five years for spying for the American intelligence services and three years for illegal entry into Iranian territories."

The three Americans were arrested by the Iranian authorities in 2009 after they illegally crossed into Iran through its borders with Iraq and finding evidence that they have cooperated with the U.S. intelligence.