Iran Border Guards detain seven US troops

The men were illegally trying to enter Iran reported the semi-official Fars news agency.

TEHRAN: Iranian border guards detained seven US troops as they tried to illegally enter the Islamic state, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday, without giving a source.

"Recently seven American troops were detained by Iranian guards in a southeastern province of the country ... Two Iranians accompanying the troops were also arrested," said Fars.

No other news agency reported the incident.

Earlier, Iran had freed 32-year-old US national Sarah Shourd after holding her and fellow hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal for more than a year.

All three were arrested on July 31, 2009 after straying into Iran from Iraq. The authorities had charged them with ‘spying and illegally entering the country.’