The chief of the Iranian intelligence service, Ali Yunesi, has said the thirteen Jews accused of spying for Israel will be tried publicly.

Mr Yunesi said in a newspaper interview that if found guilty, the defendants would be executed.

No date has yet been set for the trial.

There's been intense western pressure on Iran since the arrest of the Jews last year in the southern city of Shiraz.

The Iranians have rejected accusations that the trial is religiously motivated: they say eight Muslims are also being held on the same charges.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service