France, March 8 -- Iran has sentencedan Irish-French citizen to six-and-a-half years in jail.Bernard Phelan has been held since his arrest in October in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

The 64-year-old suffers from a number of health problems, some requiring daily medication. His family say his life is in danger.

Bernard Phelan, a Paris-based travel consultant, is accused of transmitting information to an enemy state, a charge he denies.

At an initial hearing on 20 February, where he was assisted by a regime-appointed lawyer, Phelan was sentenced to three and a half years, a reduced penalty in view of his health condition and age.

However, a second hearing on 26 February saw the sentenced increased to six-and-a-half years. Iran jails...