Iran sentences Chinese-American to 10 years in jail

Iran has sentenced a Chinese-born American to 10 years in prison after accusing him of “infiltrating” the country. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejehi during a Sunday press briefing said Xiyue Wang wrongfully gathered information and was convicted for acting as an infiltrating American agent. Iranian officials arrested Wang, 37, in August and accused him of passing on confidential information about Iran to the U.S. State Department. Princeton University said Wang was a doctoral student in its history department. The university confirmed Wang traveled to Iran last year to conduct research for his Ph.D. dissertation. Iran has detained several other Americans and dual citizens on similar charges. The country in January released Iranian-American Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian after an 18-month imprisonment on spying charges. Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, are both serving 10-year sentences for “cooperating with the hostile American government.”