American Hikers Freed From Iranian Jail

09-21-2011 • slatest.slate.com

UPDATE: And they're free.

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been turned over to the custody of an Omani official, a senior U.S. official tells CNN.

Two Omani cars carrying the two American hikers left the Evin Prison with a police escort Wednesday evening local time. It appears as though the current plan is for the two men to be transported to Oman where they would likely get medical checkups before heading home to the United States.

UPDATE 9:34 a.m.: Iran appears poised to release Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, with an attorney for the two Americans suggesting that their release would likely to occur later Wednesday.

"We are waiting for their release," the lawyer, Masoud Shafiee, told reporters outside of Tehran's Evin prison Wednesday evening local time. "Maybe it will be be five minutes, maybe it will be four hours. But I've done all the paperwork."

Iranian state-run media reported earlier in the day that the two men had been released. While that report proved premature, it nonetheless suggests that the pair will be free soon.

CNN reports that Shafiee was seen entering the facility earlier Wednesday with paperwork to prove that the $500,000 bail had been paid for each of the Americans. Shafiee told reporters earlier in the day that the plan was for the two men to be handed over to Swiss or Omani diplomats who have helped in the negotiations to free the hikers.