Billionaire Sultan of Oman paid bail to free US hiker from Iran
September 16th, 2010 - 6:12 pm ICT by ANILondon, Sep 16(ANI): The billionaire Sultan of Oman is believed to be the man behind the sudden release of US hiker Sarah Shourd from a jail in Iran.
Shourd, arrested near the Iran-Iraq border in July 2009, was freed from a cell in Teheran’s Evin Prison and taken to a private jet that flew her across the Persian Gulf after an apparent diplomatic deal to pay 500,000 dollars in bail.
According to The Telegraph, Oman played a critical role in organizing the bail payment and assuring it did not violate American economic sanctions on Iran.
The US State Department said the small Gulf nation had been a “key interlocutor” with Iran.
Shourd, along with Americans Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, was detained along the Iraq border in July 2009 on spying charges.
Bauer and Fattal are still behind bars and could face trials on spy charges.
Meanwhile, a statement by the three families said: “All of our families are relieved and overjoyed that Sarah has at last been released, but we’re also heartbroken that Shane and Josh are still being denied their freedom for no just cause … They deserve to come home, too.” (ANI)
- Iran spied upon from centres in neighbouring countries: MP - Nov 10, 2011
- Iran begins trial of Amricans held for spying - Feb 06, 2011
- US hikers freed by Iran arrive in New York - Sep 26, 2011
- Iran releases U.S. hiker Sarah Shourd on bail - Sep 14, 2010
- Iran to release detained US hikers - Sep 13, 2011
- Iran agrees to release female US hiker - Sep 12, 2010
- Iran summons freed US woman for trial - Feb 01, 2011
- Released US hiker Sarah Shourd 'gratified' after meeting Ahmadinejad at UN - Sep 25, 2010
- Iran sentences US hikers to eight years in jail - Aug 21, 2011
- Ahmadinejad wants US to release Iranians in return of hiker - Sep 18, 2010
- Iran Finally Releases Sarah Shourd From Prison - Sep 15, 2010
- Iran releases U.S. hiker Sarah Shourd on bail - Sep 14, 2010
- US woman held for spying in Iran (Lead, Changing dateline) - Jan 06, 2011
- Iran denies arrest of American woman - Jan 07, 2011
- Iranian foreign minister hopes for release of US hikers - Aug 07, 2011
Tags: billionaire, critical role, economic sanctions, evin prison, fattal, freedom, interlocutor, iraq border, london, persian gulf, private jet, sanctions on iran, shane bauer, shourd, spy charges, sultan of oman, teheran, telegraph, us state department