U.S. hikers in Iran may soon go free

Two U.S. hikers being held in Iran's infamous Evin prison may be freed later this week, for a price. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that he plans to release the two men and grant them full, unilateral amnesty.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - The two men, both Americans, aged 29, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, were arrested by Iranian authorities and charged with being CIA spies while hiking along the Iran-Iraq border. Iranian officials say the entered the country illegally with the intent to conduct espionage operations. The men say there were merely hiking. 

In addition to the men, an American woman, Sarah Shroud, was also arrested. Shroud was released in September of last year on medical and humanitarian grounds. 

However, Bauer and Fattal have remained behind bars and last month were convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years in prison. Both men have complained of depression and isolation during their incarceration. 

Masoud Shafiei, a lawyer who is representing the men, told reporters that court officials demanded $1 million in bail for the release of Bauer and Fattal. Last year, Sarah Shroud was released after $500,000 bail was paid. The Iranian government says it is demanding the bail because the hiker's cases are still  considered open and subject to appeal. 

Other experts say it is a well-timed olive branch from Ahmadinejad, who is soon expected  to travel to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. In addition to pardoning the hikers, Ahmadinejad has also invited new talks regarding the country's uranium enrichment program. Iran has been in a standoff against several other countries, including the U.S. over its controversial program. Previous talks aimed at resolving the dispute have failed. 

While Ahmadinejad is being conciliatory, he is still an avid opponent of the U.S.. He recently made the point that despite sanctions, Iran's economy remains, "large" while the U.S. and other western states are mired in recession. 

There is little question that Ahmadinejad is playing politics with Bauer and Fattal, but to U.S., officials and their families back home, politics or not, it may be one time that most Americans can say Ahmadinejad is doing the right thing, even if for political reasons. 

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