Three Australian citizens detained in Iran

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Three citizens of Australia have been detained in Iran, Australianauthorities confirmed, CNN reported.

According to areportby Australian state broadcaster ABC, one of the three is a British-Australian woman who has been behind bars for almost a year. The other two are a couple -- a British-Australian woman and her Australian boyfriend -- who were arrested in the past few months.

The arrests come amid tensions between Iran and United States and its allies, including Australia.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it was providing consular assistance to the families of three Australians detained inIran. DFAT would not comment further on the three cases due to privacy reasons, and would not confirm whether the cases were related.