(Image source: Press TV)
BY MALLORY PERRYMAN
ANCHOR LAUREN GORES
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says two U.S. hikers jailed for spying could be released within a “couple of days”.
Ahmadinejad broke the news during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Ann Curry.
“The president, in about a 45 minute interview basically told us in response to a question that he has organized, he personally has organized the release of the two remaining American hikers. We’re talking about Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer.”
Bauer and Fattal were sentenced to 8 years in an Iranian prison for spying and illegally crossing into the country. A blogger for American Thinker satirically explains-- their freedom comes with a hefty price tag.
“These dangerous US spies - who no doubt were sending back state secrets via carrier pigeons while trying to poison the entire granola supply of Iran - will be released after paying a ransom - er, bail - of $500,000.”
CNN’s Max Foster adds- money isn’t the only thing Iran is after. During the interview with NBC, Ahmadinejad specifically mentioned how many Iranian citizens are in American custody.
Max Foster (CNN): “So the implication is that he expects some Iranians in U.S. custody to be released in return. We don’t know what conversations have gone on with the U.S. about that but it’s clearly what he’s expecting here... They’re having to work through the Swiss authorities because they don’t have direct diplomatic relations with the Iranians.”
The $500,000 bail is the same the third captured hiker-- Sarah Shourd-- had to pay last year to be released from Iran. ABC reports-- family and friends are hopeful-- but not convinced-- Fattal and Bauer will make it back as well.
“We have been hearing these hopeful signs for weeks, Ahmadinejad eager to make this gesture before his visit to New York next week for the UN General Assembly but something he’s failed to deliver on before, a sign of sharp divisions inside the Iranian government.”
Sharp divisions-- that mean releasing the men isn’t just up to Ahmadinejad. CBS explains.
“Virtually everything Ahmadinejad...does must pass through the Islamic Republic's cadre of religious leaders, who often take a harder line toward the U.S. However, the Justice Ministry's official setting of bail for the two men was a sign that Ahmadinejad may be able to make good on his promise.”
We’ll be keeping up with this story-- and positing updates on our Twitter account-- Follow us for all your world headlines at Newsyvideos.
