Authors: Jeanette Torres
ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images(TEHRAN, Iran) -- ABC News has learned that bail has been set for detained American hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal at $500,000 each.
Their lawyer, Masoud Shafie, told ABC News that as soon as his clients can get the money together, they will be released from Iran.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed in an interview slated to air Tuesday morning that the hikers will be released in two days. However, sources tell ABC News it remains unclear whether the president can accomplish this, since he cannot do it on his own authority. It's understood Ahmadinejad would like to see it happen in advance of his trip to the U.N. next week.
The two hikers were imprisoned on July 31, 2009 after crossing an unmarked border while hiking in northern Iraq. Iranian authorities claimed they had illegally crossed over into their territory and charged them with spying for the U.S.
Sarah Shourd, a third hiker and Bauer's fiancée, was also detained then but was released by Iranian authorities after posting $500,000 bail in September of 2010.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio
