Another Iranian Jew confesses

Another of the thirteen Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel is reported to have made a partial confession.

After the man, Javid Bent Yakob, had appeared in court in the city of Shiraz, lawyers who were at the hearing said he'd admitted belonging to a Jewish religious group which collected information and passed it on to Israel.

But he denied that he considered this amounted to espionage, or damaged Iran's national security.

Of the ten Jews who are being held in custody and have now appeared in court, seven have confessed that they spied for Israel, two have made partial admissions and one has denied the charges altogether. Three others are on bail and have yet to appear in court, and Iran says eight Muslims are also accused.

Defence lawyers are arguing that the confessions made by the suspects do not constitute grounds for conviction.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service