Source:

October 1, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama has met at the White House with Sarah Shourd, the American hiker who was freed by Iran two weeks ago after being imprisoned in Tehran for more than one year.

The White House said Shourd’s mother and the mothers of two American male hikers who remain imprisoned in Iran also took part in the September 30 meeting.

A White House statement said the meeting was “bittersweet” because the two other hikers — Shourd’s fiance Shane Bauer, and their friend Josh Fattal — have not yet been released by Iran.

The statement said Obama told the group his administration will continue to do everything it can to secure the release of Bauer and Fattal, who were detained along with Shourd by Iranian forces at the end of July, 2009, while hiking in northern Iraq around the Iranian border.

The hikers say they may have crossed into Iran by mistake. Iran officials have said they are suspected of possibly being spies.

The White House statement said the Obama administration “remains hopeful that Iran will demonstrate renewed compassion” and release the two Americans still imprisoned.

compiled from agency reports