Iran denies jailed US journalist on hunger strike

An Iranian judiciary official denied that an American journalist jailed in Iran for allegedly spying for the US is on a hunger strike

and said on Tuesday that she is in ``good condition.''

Roxana Saberi's Iranian-born father, who has been in the country since April 5 to seek her release, has said she began a hunger strike a week ago, drinking only sweetened water to stay alive and that she is ``very weak.'' After visiting her in prison Tuesday, he said she remains determined to continue her protest until she is freed.

``Roxana is continuing her hunger strike. She doesn't accept her food,'' Reza Saberi

Earlier in the day, Iranian officials sought to portray talk of a hunger strike as an exploitative bid for publicity in the case, which is a source of tension between Washington and Iran at a time when the Obama administration has said it wants to engage its longtime adversary.

``She is in good physical condition and is not on a hunger strike,'' judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.

Judge Hasan Haddad, who is also deputy prosecutor for security issues, said, ``The hunger strike issue was raised by people who seek to exploit this issue for propaganda purposes,'' according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Saberi moved to Iran six years ago and worked as a freelance journalist for news organizations including National Public Radio and the British Broadcasting Corp. She received Iranian citizenship because her father was born in Iran.

Saberi was arrested in late January and initially accused of working without press credentials. But earlier this month, an Iranian judge leveled the far more serious allegation of espionage.

Iran's judiciary chief has ordered a full investigation into the case, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on Tehran's chief prosecutor to ensure Saberi be allowed a full defense during her appeal.