Washington: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said America was “deeply disappointed” by Iran’s sentencing of two US hikers to eight years in prison.
In a statement issued by the State Department, Clinton said the US continued to call and work for the two Americans’ “immediate release”, saying it was time for them to return home and be united with their families, Xinhua reported.
“I join President Obama and the people of the US in expressing our unflagging support for Shane, Joshua, Sarah and their families during this difficult time,” she said in the statement.
The two detained hikers – Joshua Fattal and Shane Bauer – were sentenced to eight years in prison by Iran on charges of illegal entry to the country and espionage.
Three Americans were arrested in Iran July 31, 2009, for illegally entering the country’s western border. They were later charged with espionage. The US government considers the charges “unfounded”.
The woman hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released in September 2010, on a bail of $500,000 due to her health situation. (IANS)