Iran has detained two Iranian-American scholars -- Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh as well as peace activist Ali Shakeri.
All three are being held on suspicions of spying or acting against state interests. A fourth, Parnaz Azima -- a reporter with Radio Farda -- has been charged with disseminating propaganda and is free on bail awaiting trial.
Larijani told an interview today on CNN that for Tehran all four were "Iranians before they were Americans."
He said America should stop its criticism and leave their cases up to the Iranian justice system.
U.S. President George W. Bush has condemned Iran's holding of the American citizens and called for their release.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
