The parents of the American journalist jailed in Iran visited their daughter for the first time since she was sentenced to prison, saying that she remained in good condition.

Roxana Saberi, 31 years old, was convicted of spying for the U.S. intelligence agency for eight years, and sentenced to prison last week.

The visit by Saberi's parents to Iran to seek her release may help ease the case.

As far as she is healthy and she is taking good care of herself, I told her I will be ok, Akiko Saberi , the journalist's mother told the Associated Press.

She denied her daughter was a spy, saying once you know her she is the last person to do that.

Saberi's father said his daughter was looking forward to the appeals process because she believed the verdict was too harsh for her.

Also, they should be compassionate in their judgment and not very harsh, he said.

President Obama said Sunday he was gravely concerned about Saberi's safety and was confident she was not involved in espionage.

However, Iran's Foreign Ministry said Monday those who studied law should not comment on the case without seeing the context. It was clear reference to Obama, who has a law degree from Harvard University and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago before becoming president.

Saberi had been living in Iran for six years and worked as a freelance reporter for news organizations including National Public Radio and the British Broadcasting Corp.