Iran to accuse Jews of sending military info to Israel

LONDON -- Iranian authorities plan to charge several Jewish suspects with sending military information to Israel as part of an espionage ring for the Jewish state and the United States.

The London-based Al Hayat daily reported on Monday that authorities in Teheran have completed indictments against 13 Jews and eight Muslims charged with being part of an espionage ring. Only one or two Jews will be charged with spying and the rest will be accused of endangering national security, Iranian judicial sources said.

Al Hayat said several of the Jews will be charged with visiting Israel and undergoing training for espionage and instructions on transmitting information. Iranian authorities will accuse those Jews of gathering military information on Iran and sending it to Israel.

The newspaper said authorities also plan to charge the Jews with recruiting Muslims for the spy network and preparing them to be sent to Israel for training. Al Hayat did not make it clear whether the Muslims arrived in the Jewish state.

The trial of the Jews and Muslims begins on Thursday. But Iranian sources said the trial might be delayed if the defense requests more time to prepare its case.

On Monday, the Teheran-based Iran Daily rejected international pressure to free the Jewish defendants. The daily, aligned with the Foreign Ministry, said Israel is leading the campaign to free the Jews and link this to any improvement in Teheran's relations with the West.

The newspaper said Jews have historical roots in Iran and the trial will not endanger the future of the country's 25,000 Jews. "The Iranian judiciary will hold the trial in full independence and in compliance with the governing laws of the land, thus strengthening the establishments of the nation by holding a fair hearing," the newspaper said.