US hikers released from Iran prison

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Breaking news

Source: US hikers released from Iran prison

Americans had been jailed as spies in Iran for more than two years

TEHRAN — Two Americans jailed as spies in Iran have been released from a Tehran prison accompanied by Omani officials and are en route to the airport, a diplomatic source told Reuters Wednesday. It was not yet known where they would head from Tehran International Airport.

Earlier Wednesday, the Iranian attorney for the two, Masoud Shafiei, said he planned to go to Tehran's Evin prison to begin the procedure for the release of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 29.

"The case is over," Shafiei said. "The court has ordered that they be freed on bail."

Shafiei told Reuters that he had obtained the "necessary signatures from judiciary officials for their release."

The $1 million bail-for-freedom deal was approved by Iran's courts, clearing the way for the release of the men after more than two years in custody.

At 6:15 a.m. ET, Reuters reported that a Swiss Embassy convoy had been spotted at the prison where the men were being held.

The Swiss diplomatic mission has represented U.S. interests in Iran since Washington cut off diplomatic relations with Tehran shortly after its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

State-run Press TV reported that Iran's judiciary confirmed that Bauer and Fattal had been released.

Bauer and Fattal were arrested along the Iran-Iraq border in July 2009 and sentenced last month to eight years each in prison. A third American in the group, Sarah Shourd, was freed last year on bail.

The case has deepened the mistrust between Washington and Tehran.

Ahead of his annual trip to the United Nations, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told NBC's TODAY last week that Bauer and Fattal would be freed "in a couple of days" as a humanitarian gesture.

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Ahmadinejad appeared to have been trying to get the Americans released in time for his arrival at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Monday.

But the Iranian judiciary, controlled by conservative hardliners at odds with Ahmadinejad, immediately rejected a swift release on bail, saying the matter was under review.

Shafiei said last week the men would be freed on $500,000 bail each. Shourd was allowed to go home on $500,000 bail in September 2010.

Iraqi help?

Last week, Oman dispatched a plane belonging to the Gulf country's ruler to fetch the two Americans if the freedom-for-bail was reached.

Omani officials declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings for the Americans' release. They only said the private plane, sent from Muscat to the Iranian capital last Wednesday, was still in Tehran.

Timeline: Detained hikers (on this page)

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani helped to mediate the pending release of Fattal and Bauer, according to Iraqi officials.

The three Americans — friends from their days at the University of California at Berkeley — have maintained their innocence and denied the espionage charges against them.

Their families say the three Americans were just hiking in northern Iraq's scenic and relatively peaceful Kurdish region when they may have accidentally strayed over the unmarked border.

Their trial was held behind closed doors.

The last direct contact family members had with Bauer and Fattal was in May 2010 when their mothers were permitted a short visit in Tehran.

Since her release last year, Shourd has lived in Oakland, California. Bauer, a freelance journalist, grew up in Onamia, Minnesota, and Fattal, an environmental activist, is from suburban Philadelphia.

Bauer proposed marriage to Shourd while in prison.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

The Associated Press, Reuters and NBC News contributed to this report.

[MyLittlePony 340]

If i were them i never go back to those area of the countries again i hike local.

[sara..... 371]

who paid the 1.5 million for the release of all three of them?

sara

[Danno 1,228]

who paid the 1.5 million for the release of all three of them?

sara

Probably the C.I.A. to get "their" people back.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

If i were them i never go back to those area of the countries again i hike local.

I never bought the "Let's go for a hike near the Iran-Iraq border" story. That's just plain stupid.

[mawilson 2,133]

I never bought the "Let's go for a hike near the Iran-Iraq border" story. That's just plain stupid.

There are lots of stupid people.

[Captain Oates 911]

Probably the C.I.A. to get "their" people back.

Haven't seen anything on telly to doubt their story..

What next, American trout fisherman captured casting their worms next to a North Korean Nuclear reactor ?

American found under Hugo Chavez's car was working for Ralph Nader's vehicle safety organization ?

We are expected to believe all this rubbish ?

Washington State has just imposed entrance fees to it's State Parks - perhaps the prospect of this is what drove them to go 'hiking' on the 'Iraq/Iran border' ?

On a more serious point, yes, why doesn't US telly report who paid the MILLION DOLLAR bail ?

The hiking club ?

Where is the journalism ? We can assess what free country journalism is really about right there.

[mawilson 2,133]

On a more serious point, yes, why doesn't US telly report who paid the MILLION DOLLAR bail ?

Why doesn't the BBC?

[Captain Oates 911]

Why doesn't the BBC?

The CIA phone line is engaged

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

They are hardly CIA considering they are in no way aligned to US government views, which makes it mildly ironic that they were held for so long.

On another note, Amanda Knox will probably free soon too.

[Captain Oates 911]

They are hardly CIA considering they are in no way aligned to US government views, which makes it mildly ironic that they were held for so long.

On another note, Amanda Knox will probably free soon too.

Amanda Knox - Brit killer - hope not

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Amanda Knox - Brit killer - hope not

She is innocent I say!

[Captain Oates 911]

She is innocent I say!

Are there any Americans anywhere in the world who are both in prison and guilty ?

Have there ever been ?

Is there anything Israel could do that the US would condemn ?

Is there any doubt that Paris Hilton is a 'job creator'

I am off to wash my car - fresh air and reality for me and the insane world can go run up a gum tree

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Are there any Americans anywhere in the world who are both in prison and guilty ?

Have there ever been ?

Is there anything Israel could do that the US would condemn ?

Is there any doubt that Paris Hilton is a 'job creator'

I am off to wash my car - fresh air and reality for me and the insane world can go run up a gum tree

On the flip side, I find the marine accident in 2006 very suspicious especially since the video tape was destroyed.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I never bought the "Let's go for a hike near the Iran-Iraq border" story. That's just plain stupid.

Yeah really.... Although saying that in the coverage of the Libyan revolution a group of American students on summer break got interviewed outside of Tripoli. Apparently they wanted to "check it out". War tourists - #######?