Clinton urges Iran to release U.S. journalist

By Sue Pleming

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanded on Thursday that Tehran immediately release an Iranian-American freelance journalist jailed in Iran for the past month.

Iran's judiciary said this week Roxana Saberi, a 31-year old who was born in the United States and reported for the British Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio and other media, was being held in Tehran's Evin prison.

"I am very concerned about this young woman," Clinton told a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Clinton said Saberi had been held in an Iranian prison for the past month and that the United States, which does not have diplomatic relations with Iran, was seeking information on the journalist via its Swiss intermediary.

"We have pressed very hard. We will continue to do so. We believe there is only one outcome to this matter and that is for her to be released as soon as possible, to return home to her family in North Dakota as soon as possible."

Clinton thanked the Swiss for their help but said it was "frustrating" not being able to have any direct contact with the Iranians on the case.

The United States is reviewing its isolation policy on Iran, including whether to open up a low-level diplomatic office there.

In a first overture to Iran, Clinton announced on Thursday that the United States planned to invite Tehran to a conference on Afghanistan.