The Obama administration voiced its deep concern on Tuesday over the health situation of jailed Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, vowing to bring her back through diplomatic method.
"We're very concerned about her mental state, about her physical being," State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood said, adding "We'll use every tool in our diplomatic arsenal to bring her back."
On Monday, Saberi's father said his daughter has been very weak since she stopped eating a week ago to protest her eight-year sentence in prison. However, Iran's officials said she is in good health.
"We're not getting information from Iran about her case," Wood said, adding "That's why we're calling on Iran to provide very clear answers to the questions that we are asking."
The 31-year-old journalist, who had worked for some international news organizations in Iran for years, was arrested in late January for working in Iran without valid press credentials.
Earlier this month, Iranian authorities announced espionage charges against Saberi, saying she used journalism as a cover to pass classified information to U.S. intelligence services.
On April 18, an Iranian court sentenced Saberi eight years in prison for spying for the United States.
The United States has rejected the espionage charges as "baseless."
(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2009)
