Iran

Iran to free two U.S citizens on bail

Iran announced recently that two American hikers, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, will be released on a $500,000 bail and sent home after being arrested in Iran a year ago. The two American hikers were arrested and charged in 2009 for illegally crossing the Iranian border and espionage. Originally, they were sentenced to eight years in Iranian prison. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has recently announced that both will be released on a $500,000 bail each and sent to the Swiss embassy in Tehran.

I believe that the perspective that relates to this issue the best is the liberal perspective. Since 2009, this has been seen as a conflict between the United States and Iran. It has done nothing but raise the already growing tension between the two states. This international conflict has raised the question whether the two American citizens are spies, which is what Iran claims, and America has consistently denied. The communication between both states since the issue began has been unprogressive and a non-victory for the United States. The sentencing of the two hikers shows that Iran denied the interests of America freeing both citizens. Now, Iran has changed it’s mind and has decided to set free both hikers on bail. Obviously, Iran and the United States were able to come to some negotiation on the case of these two American citizens. It also looks to relieve a lot of the growing tension between both states. Interestingly enough, the decision to free the hikers comes at a time when Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will soon visit New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Liberal

http://www.irannewsdaily.com/view_news.asp?id=225894

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/uk-iran-iraq-usa-idUKTRE78E14S20110915?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

September 15, 2011 at 10:00 pm