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Iran Allows Swiss Envoys Visit With Detained Hikers

Policy reversal may be gesture of goodwill ahead of nuclear talks

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2009 4:10 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Iran has changed its policy on three detained US hikers, allowing Swiss diplomats—who represent American interests in Iran—to visit them. Officials have been denied access to the three Americans since they were detained in July after crossing the border from Iraqi Kurdistan into Iran. Tehran’s reversal may be an attempt to smooth relations with the US ahead of Thursday’s UN Security Council meetings, which will deal with the nation’s nuclear ambitions, the BBC reports.

This 2008 photo provided Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 by the Shourd and Bauer families shows Shane Bauer, right, and Sarah Shourd in Berkeley, Calif.
This 2008 photo provided Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 by the Shourd and Bauer families shows Shane Bauer, right, and Sarah Shourd in Berkeley, Calif.   (AP Photo/Shourd and Bauer families)
In this undated photo provided Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 by the Fattal family, Joshua Felix Fattal, right, laughs with his mother Laura Fattal in Elkins Park, Pa.
In this undated photo provided Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 by the Fattal family, Joshua Felix Fattal, right, laughs with his mother Laura Fattal in Elkins Park, Pa.   (AP Photo/Fattal family)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
WharfRat
Sep 30, 2009 12:25 PM CDT
Seriously Spudsy, you really drank the FOX koolaid. The Middle East is a beautiful place.
JoeQ
Sep 30, 2009 12:20 PM CDT
My understanding is that they were trying to reach a rather picturesque waterfall. If you cannot understand why anyone would want to spend their day doing that, stay inside at home and stay tuned to Fox for important updates.
JoeQ
Sep 30, 2009 12:18 PM CDT
Sure enough, Obama ratchets up the rhetoric with Iran a bit and there's a break in the handling of this issue. Makes you wonder whether there is some wisdom behind the old Teddy Roosevelt style of "gunboat diplomacy".

 
Iraq • Iran • United Nations • Tehran • Kurdistan • Switzerland • United States • detainee • UN Security Council • hikers • Shane Bauer • Sarah Shourd • Josh Fattal

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