Exclusive: American Hikers Detained in Iran Engaged

May 24, 2010 — -- After months of worrying, the mothers of three American hikers detained in Iran have reason to celebrate today: two of their children are getting married.

Shane Bauer completed his proposal to Sarah Shourd by offering her a ring made a string he fashioned in his prison cell.

In an exclusive interview with "Good Morning America," the mothers of Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd announced the couple's recent engagement.

"Shane proposed to Sarah…he made a little ring out of the threads from his shirt and she has a ring," a teary Nora Shourd, Sarah's mother, said. "They are going to get married as soon as they have their freedom."

"They have been in love for a long time. This was going on and they asked Cindy and I if it was okay if they got married, and of course it is okay. We are happy to be families together," Nora Shourd said on "GMA."

Shane proposed to Sarah while in the exercise area, the mothers said, and Josh Fattal, the other captured hiker, will be the best man at their wedding.

"They need to be free so they can carry on their lives…he loves her and they have gone through a lot in life together and, specifically now, and they are anxious for us all to be a family," Shane Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey, said.

The happy news comes just days after the mothers were granted their first visits with the hikers in Tehran, Iran. It was the first time the mothers have seen the hikers since the group was arrested in July for crossing the Iranian border and accused of spying by Iranian officials.

The mothers had hoped to convince Iran to free their children during the visit, but after two days the moms flew home without them.

The three mothers told "GMA" that they held onto their children the entire time during their visit.

"I just hung onto him and gave him this long hug and we were constantly holding each other's hands," Cindy Hickey said.