An American journalist jailed in Iran convicted of spying has gone on a hunger strike for the fifth day to protest her imprisonment, her father said Saturday.

Roxana Saberi, a dual American-Iranian citizen, 31-year-old was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison more than a week ago.

She said she has started a hunger strike Tuesday to protest her imprisonment, today is the fifth day and she will continue going on until she is free, her father Reza Saberi, told the Associated Press.

The case has been aroused tensions between the United States and Iran. The U.S. has called the accusations against Saberi baseless and demanded her release.

It is the first time Iran has found an American journalist guilty of spying and it is unclear how it would affect recent overtures by the Obama administration for better relations with Iran.