Iran sets bail for 2 US citizens

World

Iran sets bail for 2 US citizens

Close

An Iranian court set bail of $500,000 each for two American men arrested more than two years ago.

13 September,2011 10:03 pm

Both were convicted on spy-related charges, clearing the way for their release a year after a similar bail-for-freedom arrangement for the third member of the group, their defense attorney said.Lawyer Masoud Shafiei said the court would begin the process to free Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal after payment of the bail, which must be arranged through third parties because of U.S. economic sanctions on Iran. But the timing of the courts decision is similar to last year’s bail deal mediated by the Gulf state of Oman that freed a third American, Sarah Shourd.Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad termed the bail as a humanitarian gesture and repeated complaints about attention for Iranians held in US prisons.US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the United States was encouraged by Ahmadinejads comments.