Iran 'Arrests' US Woman on Spy Charges
THE GUARDIAN: Hall Talayan, 55, arrested in north-west Iran near the border with Armenia

The woman is the fourth American Iran has arrested and accused of spying in less than two years. Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal (seen above) were arrested in July 2009. Photograph: The Guardian
Iran has arrested an American woman on charges of spying after she illegally entered the country on foot, reports from the country said today.

According to the Iran newspaper, the US national, named as Hall Talayan, had spying equipment hidden on her body when customs authorities held her in the border town of Nordouz, 370 miles (600km) north-west of Tehran.

Khabaronline, a conservative news website, also named Talayan, saying she had a small microphone hidden between her teeth. The woman reportedly crossed by land from Armenia, and did not have a visa. >>> Peter Walker and agencies | Thursday, January 06, 2011