Paris  - There is still no date for a verdict in the case of a Frenchwoman who must remain in Iran while she awaits a decision on an espionage case filed against her, Iran's ambassador to France told the Le Parisien newspaper in its Tuesday edition.

Clotilde Reiss, 24, was arrested July 1 as she sought to depart Iran. She was charged with reporting on the uprisings in the wake of the disputed June re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. She spent 46 days in an Iranian jail before being released against a bail of about 200,000 euros (285,600 dollars).

However, she may not leave Iran until the verdict is delivered.

"Decisions about punishment, release or fines are left to the judge," Ali Ahani told the newspaper. "It will certainly take less time than in France."

He rejected charges that the charges and trial, in which Reiss is alleged to have pled guilty, have been fabricated. "Our religion forbids us from forcing confessions," he said.

Ahani also reiterated Iran's stance that Reiss is a spy. He termed it unlikely that the geography student was working as a French language teacher. "And why was she in Isfahan, in the region where are uranium enrichment facilities are?"

Reiss was under observation during her time in Iran.

The case has strained relations between Iran and France, which insists that Reiss is innocent. (dpa)