(CNN) —
An Australian university lecturer detained in Iran has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying, a source with knowledge of the matter told CNN Wednesday.
Last week, the Australian government confirmed that University of Melbourne lecturer Kylie Moore-Gilbert was one of three Australian nationals currently detained in Iran.
Speaking Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sayyed Abas Mousavi said that one Australian “has been sentenced to prison last year for espionage.” The following day, however, Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili appeared to contradict his colleague, saying Moore-Gilbert had been “spying for another country,” but said her case still had to go to trial.
Responding to Esmaili’s comments, the source reiterated to CNN that Moore-Gilbert – a British-Australian dual citizen – had already been tried and sentenced to ten years in prison. She has already been held in Iran for almost a year, the source said.
A specialist in Middle Eastern politics, Moore-Gilbert had begun a course in the Iranian city of Qom last year, according to Australian state broadcaster ABC.
Australian Kylie Moore-Gilbert has been held in Iran for almost a year.
Separately, Elsami also on Tuesday confirmed the July arrest of an Australian couple who have been held for almost three months are accused of photographing military sites and other “forbidden areas.” He said the photos had been taken on a drone.
Previously, the couple were identified as Jolie Ellen King and Mark Firkin, who have been documenting their world travels on YouTube and Instagram. A source familiar with the matter told CNN that King is a British-Australian dual citizen.
According to the ABC, the couple were arrested on the hills outside Iran’s capital, Tehran. In Iran, a permit is required to operate a drone that can take photographs.
PHOTO:
From social media
Jolie King and Mark Firkin in India, in a photo posted on Instagram on December 29, 2018.
Speaking Wednesday, Australia’s Minister for Trade Simon Birmingham said Canberra has been supporting the three detained people for “some time now.”
“We are concerned for the welfare of these individuals and work to make sure their treatment is as fair as possible,” he told ABC’s AM show. “We will show restraint when it comes to our public commentary around individual cases because often that is the best way to provide support for those individual circumstances when providing consular assistance.”
In a press conference the same day, British minister Liz Truss said that London was “very concerned” about the issue.
A source familiar with the matter said that although two of the three are dual UK citizens, Canberra has been taking the lead on securing their release.
Australia currently advises citizens considering visiting Iran to “reconsider your need to travel,” due to “the risk that foreigners, including Australians, could be arbitrarily detained or arrested.”
02:25 - Source: CNN
Australian Attorney General denies historical rape allegation
PHOTO:
Paul Kane/Getty Images
Attorney-General Christian Porter speaks during a media conference on March 03, 2021 in Perth, Australia. Attorney-General Christian Porter has publicly confirmed he is the cabinet minister named in a historical rape allegation from 1988 which came to light in the last week and has emphatically denied the allegations.
Now playing
Australian Attorney General denies historical rape allegation
Cuba aims to produce its own Covid-19 vaccine
PHOTO:
CNN
Police shoot stun grenades at Arab Israelis protesting an increase in gang violence in their towns.
Now playing
Police shoot stun grenades at peaceful Arab-Israeli protesters
PHOTO:
olcanological Survey of Indonesia via Reuters
Mount Sinabung in Indonesia erupted on March 2, launching a cloud of ash and dust several kilometers into the sky. No one was injured in the eruption but authorities have warned people to stay away from the crater.
Now playing
See this volcano in Indonesia erupt
PHOTO:
Courtesy Maxar
New satellite images taken by Maxar show that North Korea sometime in the past year built a structure that may be intended to obscure entrances to an underground facility where nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons components are stored.
Now playing
See images US intelligence claims is a secret weapons site
nigeria kidnapped schoolgirls released Busari pkg intl ldn vpx_00000423.png
Now playing
Tears of joy and relief as 279 Nigerian schoolgirls return home
PHOTO:
STR/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
Protesters take cover behind homemade shields as tear gas is fired during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on March 1, 2021. (Photo by STR / AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)
Now playing
Footage shows tear gas, flash bangs used on protesters in Myanmar
PHOTO:
CNN
01 rivers migrants pkg 02282021
Now playing
CNN correspondent speaks to migrants making dangerous journey to US
PHOTO:
Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 01: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves court after being found guilty of corruption and influence-peddling on March 01, 2021 in Paris, France. Mr. Sarkozy is only the second French president in modern times to have been convicted, after the conviction of former President Jacques Chirac in 2011. (Photo by Kiran Ridley/Getty Images)
Now playing
'An earthquake in French politics': CNN reporter on Sarkozy sentence
Hear from schoolgirl who escaped abduction in Nigeria
PHOTO:
Metropolitan Police
UK police appealed for help Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, to find three teenage girls who are missing from their homes in London and are believed to be making their way to Syria.
The girls, two of them 15 and one 16, have not been seen since Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, when, police say, they took a flight to Istanbul. One has been named as Shamima Begum, 15, who may be traveling under the name of 17-year-old Aklima Begum, and a second as Kadiza Sultana, 16. The third girl is identified as Amira Abase, 15.
Now playing
Shamima Begum loses legal bid to return home to appeal citizenship revocation
How a religious festival turned into a massacre
PHOTO:
FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh on October 2018.
Now playing
US intel report: Saudi Crown Prince responsible for approving Khashoggi operation
PHOTO:
Costa Argyrous
A Fijian rugby team serenaded workers in the Sydney hotel where they are quarantining.
Now playing
See Fijian rugby team serenade quarantine staff in Australia
PHOTO:
FERNANDO MACHADO/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
Soldiers stand guard outside the CRS Turi prison in Cuenca, Ecuador on February 24, 2021. - At least 79 inmates died in simultaneous riots blamed on gang warfare at four prisons in Ecuador, officials said Wednesday. (Photo by FERNANDO MACHADO / AFP) (Photo by FERNANDO MACHADO/AFP via Getty Images)
Now playing
Ecuador prison riots leave dozens dead in gang 'extermination'
PHOTO:
Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images
A picture taken on September 15, 2019 shows an Aramco oil facility near al-Khurj area, just south of the Saudi capital Riyadh. Saudi Arabia raced today to restart operations at oil plants hit by drone attacks which slashed its production by half, as Iran dismissed US claims it was behind the assault.
Now playing
'High probability' Saudi attack launched from Iranian base
PHOTO:
Paul Kane/Getty Images
Attorney-General Christian Porter speaks during a media conference on March 03, 2021 in Perth, Australia. Attorney-General Christian Porter has publicly confirmed he is the cabinet minister named in a historical rape allegation from 1988 which came to light in the last week and has emphatically denied the allegations.
Now playing
Australian Attorney General denies historical rape allegation
Cuba aims to produce its own Covid-19 vaccine
PHOTO:
CNN
Police shoot stun grenades at Arab Israelis protesting an increase in gang violence in their towns.
Now playing
Police shoot stun grenades at peaceful Arab-Israeli protesters
PHOTO:
olcanological Survey of Indonesia via Reuters
Mount Sinabung in Indonesia erupted on March 2, launching a cloud of ash and dust several kilometers into the sky. No one was injured in the eruption but authorities have warned people to stay away from the crater.
Now playing
See this volcano in Indonesia erupt
PHOTO:
Courtesy Maxar
New satellite images taken by Maxar show that North Korea sometime in the past year built a structure that may be intended to obscure entrances to an underground facility where nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons components are stored.
Now playing
See images US intelligence claims is a secret weapons site