Iran’s Latest American Hostages: Is a Deal in the Works?

James Phillips / May 25, 2010

Three American hikers who apparently strayed across Iran’s border with Iraq have become pawns in Iran’s cynical game of foreign policy blackmail. Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd have been held in prison since being arrested last July on a hiking trip, after Iranian officials alleged that they crossed the poorly-marked border. Last week their mothers were allowed to travel to Tehran to meet with their imprisoned children, a sign that Iran’s thuggish regime believes that its bargaining leverage will be enhanced by publicizing the hostages’ plight.

Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Heydar Moslehi, told reporters on Sunday that “It is clear that the three Americans are spies,” despite the fact that the hikers have not been formally charged and the Iranians have produced no evidence to support their unfounded accusations. If they are found guilty of espionage in Iran’s arbitrary judicial system, they could face a death sentence.

Moslehi and other Iranian officials have hinted at a prisoner swap and have produced a list of 11 Iranians that they say are in custody in the United States or in third countries. At least one of the Iranians is believed to have defected from the government during a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Others have been jailed for smuggling arms or advanced technology to Iran. (more…)