The mothers of three American hikers being held in Iran on espionage charges have had an emotional meeting with their children in Tehran.
The women threw their arms in the air, rushed to the trio, hugged and kissed them.
It was their first meeting since Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, were seized last July after entering Iran from Iraq.
The mothers called for their release as a “humanitarian gesture”.
“Please, please let them go,” said Cindy Hickey, Shane Bauer’s mother. “It would be a good gesture for the world to see Iran doing.”
Speaking to reporters after their two-hour reunion, the three hikers said they had been well treated in custody.
But Sarah Shourd said it was “difficult” being alone, adding her boyfriend Shane and friend Josh are being held together.
“We have good food and good medical attention and we have reading material,” she added.
No public charge
Footage of the meeting, which took place at a Tehran hotel, was shown on Iran’s state-run English language Press TV.
