Obama "disappointed" by Iran's sentencing of journalist

PORT OF SPAIN (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is "deeply disappointed" by Iran's decision to sentence Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi on spying charges, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Saturday.

"His thoughts and prayers are with her and her family," Gibbs told reporters. "I think we will continue to express the concerns that we have through the Swiss to the Iranian government and make sure they underscore and understand our deep concern for these actions."

He declined to answer a question on how the case might affect relations with Iran, saying only "What we think is important is that the situation be remedied."

The sentencing comes as Washington is seeking to engage Iran on a range of issues.

ISNA news agency in Iran quoted an unnamed judiciary official as saying Saberi, 31, had been sentenced to eight years for espionage and that she could appeal her sentence. Iran had accused Saberi of spying for the United States.

The U.S. State Department has repeatedly called the charges against Saberi "baseless and without foundation."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; editing by Mohammad Zargham)