Iran: U.S. hikers will be released in two days, says Ahmadinejad

Written by Sandeep Nehra

The two American hikers on August 21 sentenced to 8 years in prison for illegal entry and espionage in Iran will be released “in two days,” said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an interview with NBC U.S. television to be broadcast on Tuesday.

Massoud Shafii, counsel for the two Americans, who had appealed the sentence, for his part told AFP in Tehran have been informed that two Americans were released on bail of $ 500,000 each.

The two men “will be released as soon as the deposit has been paid,” added Mr. Shafii, stating that he had been officially informed of this decision by the judicial authorities at midday Tuesday and that he would “contact the families “.

An advisor to the Iranian presidency in Tehran, for its part confirmed to AFP the release “in the coming days.”

The Swiss Embassy which represents U.S. interests in Iran, for its part said it was seeking to confirm the information.

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both aged 29 and held for two years in Iran, were arrested July 31, 2009 at the Iraqi border with compatriot Sarah Shourd, 32, returned to the United States after being released on bail in September 2010 for health reasons.

The two men were each sentenced Aug. 21 to eight years in prison by the Tehran revolutionary court under the joint charge of espionage and illegal entry into Iran.

They have always claimed to have crossed the border by mistake after he lost while hiking in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan, and pleaded not guilty to the charge of espionage.

The trial of three Americans – Sarah Shourd was tried in his absence but no decision had yet been decided against it – took place at two closed hearings, on 6 February and 31 July.