TEHERAN: Iran said yesterday three US citizens detained in the country on Friday were being questioned by Iranian authorities, al-Alam television reported.

"They were detained four days ago. We don't know whether they are tourists or not," said Iraj Hassanzadeh, a local security official in Iran's western Kurdistan province.

Friends and family say freelance journalist Shane Bauer, his girlfriend, Sarah Shourd, and a third companion, Joshua Fattal, were adventuresome travelers who accidentally stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time on Friday.