Freed US hiker meets with president of Iran

AP: Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans arrested last year while hiking near the Iran-Iraq border, has met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The Associated Press

By SAMANTHA GROSS

NEW YORK (AP) — Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans arrested last year while hiking near the Iran-Iraq border, has met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (ah-muh-DEE’-neh-zhahd).

Family spokeswoman Samantha Topping says that Shourd and her mother, Nora Shourd, met with the president Friday while he was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Topping declined to say where and when they met and what was discussed.

Shourd tells ABC News it was “a good meeting” and says she had prayed for the chance to speak with Ahmadinejad.

The 32-year-old hiker was freed 10 days ago after spending more than 13 months in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.

She has been advocating for the release of her fiance, Shane Bauer, and their friend Josh Fattal, who remain jailed.