Irans Foreign Ministry says the case of an Iranian-American journalist jailed in Iran for spying for the US is now at the appeal stage.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hasan Qashqavi did not say what the evidence was against Saberi. He told the US not to make judgments or interfere with the case, and said the journalist had been tried as an Iranian citizen.

Roxana Saberi was convicted more than a week ago and sentenced to eight years in prison after a one-day trial behind closed doors. Saberi is a dual Iranian-American citizen who was born in the United States. She moved to Iran six years ago and worked as a freelance journalist.

(CCTV May 5, 2009)