(Newser)
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Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer are officially no longer on Iranian soil. The American hikers have departed on a flight from Tehran to Oman, a Swiss diplomat tells CNN. Their destination is the Omani capital of Muscat, where they will be met by their families, along with fellow hiker/Bauer's fiancee, Sarah Shourd. That country's envoy to Iran says the men will stay in Muscat for a few days "before heading home."
And from the men's families, joy: "Today can only be described as the best day of our lives," they said in a statement. "We have waited for nearly 26 months for this moment and the joy and relief we feel at Shane and Josh's long-awaited freedom knows no bounds. We now all want nothing more than to wrap Shane and Josh in our arms, catch up on two lost years and make a new beginning, for them and for all of us."
