U.S. thanks those who aided hikers' release

UNITED NATIONS -- U.S. officials Wednesday issued statements of gratitude thanking a host of international players after Iranian authorities released on bail the last two of three American hikers detained on charges of being U.S. spies since July 2009.

The release of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal came a day before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is set to speak to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, a forum he has used to scold Western nations for their transgressions, bash Israel, defend Iran's nuclear program and posture as an advocate for the world's downtrodden masses.

The men were reportedly released on $500,000 bail each and met their families in Muscat, Oman, according to news reports. U.S. officials welcomed the news.

"I join President Obama and Secretary Clinton in welcoming the release of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal after two long years in captivity," said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "They should never have been held in the first place, and today, our thoughts are with Shane, Josh and their families during their long-overdue reunion. We look forward to their safe return to United States."

The two men and a woman, Sarah Shourd, were arrested on July 31, 2009, while hiking in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iranian forces claimed the hikers crossed the border into Iran and detained them. Shourd, who is Bauer's fiancee, was released in September 2010 because she had fallen ill.

Fattal and Bauer were accused of spying and were sentenced to eight years in prison last month.

"We are deeply grateful for the efforts of all of our partners who worked towards the release of Shane and Josh today and of Sarah Shourd last September, in particular the Swiss Protecting Power in Tehran, the Omani government, and the Iraqi government," Rice added.