Word that 1 of 3 Americans held in Iran for 13 months will be freed offers hope to families

Moms of US hikers held in Iran get some good news

PINE CITY, Minn. — Three mothers who have pleaded with Iran for more than a year to free their American children have gotten a piece of the news they’ve wanted.

Iranian officials announced that on Saturday they will release one of the Americans, Sarah Shourd. But they said nothing about the fate of Shane Bauer or Josh Fattal.

For Bauer’s mother, Cindy Hickey, the news isn’t exactly what she was looking for, but it does offer some hope.

Hickey told The Associated Press in an interview at her home near Pine City, Minn., that “one release is a positive move and hopefully the other two will follow.”

The three were detained after Iranian officials said they crossed into that country while hiking near the Iraq-Iran border.