Obama Calls for Release of Iranian American Reporter Imprisoned in Iran

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad -- President Obama said Sunday he's "gravely concerned" about the safety and well-being of a U.S. journalist jailed in Iran. He's confident she is not involved in espionage against Tehran.

At the Summit of the Americas, Obama said Sunday that he's working to ensure the safety of Roxana Saberi, a 31-year-old dual American-Iranian citizen. She was sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison on charges of spying for the United States.

Saberi's case has been an irritant in U.S.-Iran relations at a time when Obama is offering to start a dialogue.

"She is an Iranian American who was interested in the country which her family came from. And it is appropriate for her to be treated as such and to be released. We are going to be in contact with -- through our Swiss intermediaries -- with the Iranian government and want to ensure that we end up seeing a proper disposition of this case," Obama said.