Boulder Woman's Brother Finally Released From Iranian Prison

DENVER (CBS4) - After 26 months behind bars in Iran two American hikers are now free and reunited with their loved ones, including a woman from Boulder.

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were convicted of spying in 2009. On Wednesday they were released from a prison in Tehran after a $1 million bail was posted. They are currently on a plane back home to the U.S.

Shane Bauer and Fattal flew to Oman where they were reunited with their families. Bauer's sister, Shannon Bauer, who lives in Boulder, flew to Oman to greet her brother on the tarmac.

The families have released a statement on their Facebook page describing Wednesday as "the best day of their lives."

"We are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free," Fattal said.

"Two years in prison is too long and we sincerely we hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in America and Iran," Shane Bauer said.

Every day since Shane Bauer's capture, Shannon Bauer had written letters to him in prison.

"We obviously won't know until this is over exactly what happened," Shannon Bauer said.

Those answers are now closer than ever. A convoy of cars sped away from a prison in Tehran carrying the freed American hikers. Their lawyer says an Iranian judge approved a $1 million bail deal, securing their freedom.

Swiss officials helped in the release since the U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Iran.

Bauer, Fattal and a third hiker, Sarah Shourd, were arrested by Iranian authorities in July of 2009 while hiking along the Iran-Iraq border. They were accused of spying. Shourd was set free last year.

Last month a judge sentenced the men to eight years in prison.

Shane Bauer is engaged to Sarah Shourd. Their families say now that Bauer is free, they can start planning their wedding.