NEW YORK — The mothers of three American hikers detained in Iran have left for Tehran in an attempt to appeal to Iranian leaders to release their children from prison.
Cindy Hickey, Nora Shourd and Laura Fattal left from Kennedy Airport in New York on Tuesday morning.
The mothers say they're grateful to Iran for issuing them travel documents and call it "an encouraging development." They say they're overjoyed that they'll soon be able to hug their children, but are bracing themselves to return home without them.
Hickey's son, 27-year-old Shane Bauer, his girlfriend, Sarah Shourd, and their friend Josh Fattal were arrested along the Iraqi border in July. Iran accuses them of spying, but relatives and the U.S. government have denied that.
Online: www.freethehikers.org