Iran said today that it would free one of the three American hikers it has held as spies for more than a year on bail of $500,000 (£325,722). But the fate of her friends remains unclear amid controversy in Tehran.
Sarah Shourd, 31, has been in prison with Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 28, since they apparently strayed over the border from Iraqi Kurdistan in July 2009. The three are pawns in a tense diplomatic standoff between the US and Iran and have apparently fallen victim to internal political rivalry in the Islamic republic.
Massoud Shafei, their lawyer, said he had informed Shourd’s family and the Swiss embassy – which looks after US interests in Iran – of the amount set for bail “so they can take the necessary measures.” Shafei said he hoped Shourd would be released in the next two or three days.
Friends of Shourd’s mother, Nora, said she would issue a statement later. The US said it was “encouraged” by news of Iran’s readiness to free her.
Iran announced on Friday that Shourd would be released yesterday as a humanitarian gesture to mark Eid al-Fitr – the holiday at the end of the Ramadan fast – but excitement quickly gave way to confusion in the wake of conflicting statements from Tehran.
