American hikers Shane Bauer (L) and Josh Fattal (C) and their translator attend the first session of their trial at the revolutionary court in Tehran, in this February 6, 2011 file picture. [Photo/Agencies]

TEHRAN - Iran's judiciary has sentenced two US hikers detained in Iran on charges of espionage to eight years in jail, the state IRIN TV website reported on Saturday.

The two Americans, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, have 20 days to appeal after the convictions on charges of illegal entry into Iranian territory, the website quoted an unnamed judicial source as saying.

The lawyer of the two hikers, Masoud Shafiee, expressed hope last week that they would soon be released.

The fourth and last trial session to address the charges against the two hikers and their fellow Sarah Shourd was held earlier this month in the Branch 15 of Tehran's Revolution Court.

The three US nationals were arrested in Iran on July 31, 2009 for illegally entering Iran's western border and were later charged with espionage. The US government considered the charges totally unfounded.

The female US hiker Sarah Shourd, once jailed in Iran with the other two Americans, was released by Tehran's prosecutor in September, 2010, on a bail of $500,000 due to her health situation.