The Latest from Iran (13 September): The Revolving Door of Freedom?
Monday, September 13, 2010 at 14:52
2020 GMT: Latest on US Detainee Sarah Shourd. Masoud Shafiee, the lawyer for detained US citizen Sarah Shourd, says that her family is appealing to Iran's authorities to drop or reduce. the $500,000 bail demanded for her release because of difficulties raising the money.
Shafiee said authorities had given no response to the bail request.
Meanwhile, State Department spokesman Phillip Crowley said, "The United States government does not fund prisoner bail."
White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said the Obama Administration is in close contact with the families of the three detained US hikers --- Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Josh Fattal --- and the Swiss Embassy, which represents American interests in Iran.
"The situation is continuing to develop," Vietor said. "We remain hopeful for a positive outcome."
Shafiee said authorities had given no response to the bail request.
2000 GMT: Diplomat Number Four. The Norwegian paper Dagblodet reports that Farzad Farhangian, the Iranian Press Attache in Belgium, has resigned his post and is now in Oslo seeking asylum.