Iran needs more time to investigate the case of three United States nationals arrested while allegedly hiking illegally in Iran, dpa qouted an Iranian Foreign Ministry deputy as saying Monday. The three American mountain hikers - Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal - were arrested last month along the Iraq-Iran border for illegally entering Iranian territory. Tehran expressed doubts that the three Americans were hikers and suspects that they were journalists trying to cover the unrest in Iran following the June 12 presidential election. Due to the timing and location of the arrest, more time was needed to investigate the case thoroughly, Fars news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali-Reza Salari as saying in a meeting with the Swiss ambassador in Tehran. -- SPA