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The conviction of two Americans held in Iran for spying and illegally crossing the border has been condemned by a human rights group.

Amnesty International said the eight-year jail sentences for Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 29, made a "mockery of justice" and were designed to be used as "a bargaining chip to allow Iran to obtain unspecified concessions from the US government".

A court sentenced the two men to three years each for illegally entering Iran and further five years each for espionage, it emerged over the weekend.

"The conduct of this trial has quite simply made a mockery of justice. There does not appear to be any substance to the allegations that Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal are spies," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty's Middle East director.

He described the trial as "deeply flawed" and said there was no evidence known to have been presented to suggest the pair were conducting espionage in Iran.

"They have already spent over two years waiting for justice. The Iranian authorities should take act now and release these two men now without further delay," added Smart.

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