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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian graduate student at the University of Texas went on trial Tuesday in Tehran on charges of having relations with a hostile country and receiving illegitimate funds, his lawyer said.

Omid Kokabee pleaded not guilty to both charges during the trial's opening session, said the attorney, Saeed Khalili. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Iranian authorities arrested the 29-year-old Kokabee in February at Tehran's international airport as he was about to get on a flight to return to the U.S. after a short vacation in Iran.

Kokabee was studying optics in the physics department of the University of Texas and had previously specialized in lasers, one of his academic advisers said. None of his studies were linked to nuclear applications, said John Keto, chair of the graduate studies program at the University of Texas at Austin's department of physics.

Iran's nuclear program is a major source of tension between Tehran and Washington. The U.S. and other countries accuse Iran of making all the necessary preparations to build a nuclear arsenal. Iran denies that and says its nuclear work has only peaceful aims, like power generation.

The student's lawyer told The Associated Press that he was not been permitted to speak with Kokabee at Tuesday's trial session.

"He denied all charges. The entire session was allocated to (procedural) he... >>>