The United States says Saberi is an American reporter who is simply practicing journalism. Her father, Reza Saberi, says his daughter has been writing a book on the culture and people of Iran since 1997.

Her father says Saberi is considering a hunger strike in protest of the Iranian sentence. The verdict marks the first case where Iran has found an American journalist guilty of espionage.

Meanwhile, conservative Iranian lawmakers say that the case will not significantly affect any ongoing efforts to build trust between Washington and Iran.

(CCTV April 20, 2009)