WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The mothers of two U.S. hikers still being held in Iran say they hope their sons will soon be able to join released detainee Sarah Shourd.
Laura Fattal appeared on CNN's American Morning with Cindy Hicky to appeal to Iran to release their two sons, who have been detained for more than a year, CNN reported.
"What we really want of course is their release," Fattal said. "We're so happy Sarah's home -- but it's our turn to have our kids back with us."
Shourd was released from Iran and reunited with her mother in Muscat, Oman, Tuesday after 14 months in a Tehran prison.
Shourd, 32, and fellow Americans Shane Bauer, 28, who is her fiance, and their friend, Josh Fattal, 28, were detained after they allegedly strayed across an unmarked border into Iran while hiking in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
Iran accused the three of spying, a charge the United States and the hikers have denied.
Shourd described her release as a "huge relief" and thanked "every country, every official and individual" involved in the process, the BBC reported.
She said she would lobby for the release of the men she was arrested with.
"My first priority is to help my fiance Shane Bauer and my friend Josh Fattal to gain their freedom because they don't deserve to be in prison anymore," she said.
President Barack Obama renewed his call for the pair's release.
"We remain hopeful that Iran will demonstrate renewed compassion by ensuring the return of Shane, Josh and all the other missing or detained Americans in Iran," the president said.
