Clinton hopeful hikers to be freed soon

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she's not worried about delays in releasing two American hikers convicted of spying in Iran.

"We continue to hope that the two young Americans will be released as part of a humanitarian gesture by the Iranian government," Clinton said in San Francisco Thursday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said earlier this week the two men, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, would be freed but there were reports the judiciary indicated no release was planned soon.

Fattal and Bauer were convicted of spying and entering Iran illegally and sentenced in August to eight years in prison.

They were arrested, along with Sarah Shourd, in July 31, 2009, after apparently crossing an unmarked border into Iran while hiking in northern Iraq. The three said they were unaware they had crossed into Iran. Shourd was later freed.

Some analysts view delays in the men's release as evidence of a power struggle between Ahmadinejad and the country's Justice Ministry, ABC News reported.

"We have seen in the past some delays that have occurred after decisions were announced, so that at this point we are not at all concerned because we have received word through a number of sources, publicly and privately, that the decision will be executed on and that we will see their return to their families," Clinton said.

"I'm not going to speculate on what the reasons are or what it might mean or might not mean, but I'm going to count on the Iranian government fulfilling the announcement that was made by the leadership of the country and hope that it can be expedited and we can see their release very soon."

Diplomats from Oman, Iraq and Switzerland also are working to secure the men's release, unnamed officials told ABC.