Iran trial of 2 American hikers postponed

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian authorities postponed the long-awaited trial of three Americans charged with espionage on Wednesday.

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been held since July 2009 after being taken into custody on the Iran-Iraq border. A third American who was taken with them, Sarah Shourd, was released in September on $500,000 bail and returned to the United States. She is being tried in absentia.

Bauer and Fattal, who are both 28, remain in jail. The three claim they were hiking in Iraq's northern Kurdish region and any crossing into Iran was inadvertent.

A Swiss diplomat representing the United States' interests in Iran told CBS News of the postponement, saying that the Iranian regime was "just not ready to take a decision." The diplomat asked to remain anonymous.

Video: Sarah Shourd free, but still fighting

The hikers' Iranian attorney, Masoud Shafiei, confirmed the delay, telling The Associated Press that Iranian officials had given no immediate explanation.

The trial opened on Feb. 6 and was to have resumed on Wednesday.



Shafiei says his clients deny the allegations and maintain any crossing into Iran was inadvertent. Shourd, 32, from Oakland, California, was ordered back to Tehran for the trial by Iranian officials but she has said she won't return.

Shourd told The Associated Press Wednesday that the families of Bauer and Fattal are "devastated" that the two were not brought to court. Shourd and Bauer are engaged.

Shourd and Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey say they're concerned about the men's health. Fattal's brother, Alex Fattal, says the families were hoping Wednesday's appearance would bring resolution.

Shafiei also said he was worried about his clients' health and the court's failure to hold the proceedings Wednesday.


The lawyer said he has not been allowed to see Bauer and Fattal since the February date of the trial's opening.

"I've demanded to be allowed to meet my clients several times," he said, adding that although his request for a meeting was never officially denied, the authorities "never let it happen."

The spying charges could bring a maximum sentence of 10 years.





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