TEHRAN, May 29: Iran announced on Tuesday it has charged three US-Iranians with spying in cases that have heightened tensions with Washington, just a day after Iranian and US officials held landmark talks over Iraq.

Iran's judiciary spokesman said US-Iranian scholars Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh were being held in prison on accusations of spying while journalist Parnaz Azima remained at liberty but faced the same charges.

Esfandiari, a renowned expert on the Middle East, has been formally accused by the intelligence ministry of “acting against the security of the country through propaganda and espionage for foreigners,” Ali Reza Jamshidi said.

“The same goes for Mr Tajbakhsh. He is being kept in detention,” said Jamshidi, confirming that Esfandiari was also still being held in Tehran's Evin prison.

“Ms Azima is not detained. She is at liberty but bears the same accusations,” as the two detained scholars, said Jamshidi. All three suspects have US and Iranian passports but Iran does not recognise dual nationality.

Jamshidi's comments were the first time Iran has confirmed Tajbakhsh's detention or indicated that Azima also faces such serious accusations.

An expert in urban planning who has taught in the United States and Iran and worked for the World Bank, Tajbakhsh was according to US press reports arrested on May 11.—AFP