WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- There has been no word on three American hikers who were taken into custody by Iranian guards, U.S. officials said Thursday.
ABC "Good Morning America" reported Shane Bauer 27, a Damascus-based journalist, his girlfriend, Sarah Shourd, 30, a teacher and travel writer, and Joshua Fattal, 27, who arranges trips in the area, strayed into Iran as they trekked in the mountains along the border between Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran.
As of Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said it has gotten little information on the trio.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Aug. 3, "We asked our Swiss partners who represent our interests in Iran to pursue our inquiries to determine the status of the three missing Americans."
But State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said later, "Switzerland has not been granted consular access to the three American hikers. Iran has not provided information about their location and whether or not any charges have been filed against them."
The news program said there are some who believe the three should not have chanced such a trip in the first place.
"We can appreciate that people may feel that. But this area of Iran and Kurdistan has been a safe area," said Fattal's brother, Alex. "This is a beautiful area, and it's a great tourist area."
