Hikers Who Crossed Into Iran Have Been Moved to Tehran
EmailABC News' Martha Raddatz reports:
American hikers detained by Iran after allegedly crossing over from Iraq have been moved to Tehran, a U.S. official tells ABC News.
The move may be a sign that the hikers' ordeal will continue to drag on.
Joshua Fattal, an environmental worker from Oregon, freelance journalist Shane Bower of Minnesota and Californian Sarah Shourd, who writes and teaches in the Middle East, have been held as prisoners in Iran since Friday.
The three tourists were detained after evidently straying into Iran while hiking in the mountains in the Iraqi border town of Ahmed Awah, a popular resort area famous for its pistachio trees and picturesque waterfalls. The border between Iran and Iraq is not clearly marked.
Americans have been repeatedly warned by the U.S. government not to travel to Iraq. Even though U.S. troops have withdrawn from major cities, violent attacks and bombings remain prevalent throughout the country.
According to Iran's state TV, the three were arrested for "illegal entry into Iran from Iraq's Kurdistan region." Iranian authorities said the hikers ignored warnings from Iranian guards.
A fourth American, linguistics student and English teacher Shon Meckfessel from Seattle, had previously hiked with the group. Meckfessel, who was taken to the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, said he received a cell phone call from his friends saying, "We're surrounded."
Fattal, who loved to travel, wanted to know more about his family's roots in the region. His father, Jacob Fattal, was born in Iraq.
ABC News' Huma Khan, Kirit Radia, Jim Sciutto and Ki Mae Heussner contributed to this report.
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Serves them right for being so stupid. I do hope they get rescued though. Send Bill again.
Posted by: Huh | August 7, 2009, 8:54 pm 8:54 pm
What no Bill Clinton to save these people? I guess if you aren’t related to a second rate reporter you don’t matter.
PATHETIC
Posted by: sad | August 7, 2009, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
These “students” seem more like young CIA agents to me. They fit the profile highly educated and wealthy young people who seem to no problems getting into the most dangerous places in the world. Hmm
Posted by: CIIIAAA | August 7, 2009, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm
Sad, Laura and Euna were held five months before being released and I am glad they are home. If Bill Clinton can aide in the hikers release, that would be fine.
Posted by: JL | August 7, 2009, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
WHO in their right mind goes camping within eye-shot of the Iranian border? Especially from Iraq? This is either the most incredibly stupid prank move -or there is just no excuse — and what would CIA operatives learn from that remote locale?
Posted by: Karen Lee | August 7, 2009, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
They likely read the travel book “Worlds Most Dangerous Places” or something similiar. It is indeed too bad. The impetuousness of youth, I suppose. IF that is the story. One never knows in these days. Lots of, shall we say, other possibilities might be involved. Hopefully Clinton, Bill that is since Hillary is an empty pant-suit, can visit and free them like the “journalists” from N.Korea.
Posted by: Ed | August 7, 2009, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
sad seems like an agent of the Iranian regime. These same kinds of people would post on Twitter during the elections in an effort to cause confusion. I am sure what these college kids are saying is true. As an Iranian and a Cal alum, I can see where they are coming from. Iran wants to use this to divert attention from what is going on domestically. They will be freed in a few months at the most….
Posted by: JJ | August 7, 2009, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
The blind stupdity and wanton arrogance of these young folks in a way mirror the elder US politicians who with total abandon violate Iranian sovreignty by gunboat diplomacy. If their stupider elders want to bomb Iran, in total disregard of the International laws why not the younger ones who may have said: ‘what a heck lets go over into Iran. Let’s see what happens’?!!!!!
Posted by: Permute | August 7, 2009, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm
I understand that all three are Berkley graduates. Something tells me they may appreciate our fine milliary better once they are rescued.
Posted by: Mineko | August 7, 2009, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm
Minko – UC Berkley is the home of so many CIA (mostly left CIA) recruiters, etc. Your forgetting John Yu came from there. What about the Lawrence Berkley Nuclear weapons lab.
Very few UC students are radicals anymore, sadly. Don’t dis a place you know nothing about.
Hope these agents are ok. God bless them.
Posted by: CIAAA | August 7, 2009, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
Before I say anything, I pray for the release of the 3 Americans. However, there are other areas in Iran that are more suitable to hike as tourists than the Iraqi and Kurdish regions. The border between Iraq and Kurdistan is extremely riskie areas to travel. Even Iranians don’t go to that region. There are anti-Islamic regime Kurdish militia all over the mountainer regions; there are Iraqi war lords and military on the other side of the border; and within Iran you have both military and militia (Revolutionary Guards) fiercely patroling the area.
I have a very hard time believing there were hiking much less the existance of a touristie area called, “…Ahmed Awah, a popular resort area famous for its pistachio trees and picturesque…”
Give me a break!
Posted by: Lili | August 8, 2009, 1:07 am 1:07 am
CIAAA:
How’s Code Pink folks are doing these days? Are they still busy insulting, oophs, I mean, protesting in front of the Marine recruitment office? Or is it done now that Obama is the President?
Posted by: Mineko | August 8, 2009, 1:16 am 1:16 am
I think this story would have been an international crisis had the post-election protests not happened in Iran. Now the international world seems to understand that the actions of the Iranian government are not the same as the will of Iranian people.
Posted by: noushin azadi | August 8, 2009, 3:16 am 3:16 am
People who can’t find enough nice trails to hike at home, don’t deserve any better. Unless they’re hiking for CIA (then they deserve Bill Clinton).
Posted by: Lucy Inthesky | August 8, 2009, 3:40 am 3:40 am
Yes, their “ordeal” will continue — but they brought it on themselves, with no help from anyone else. In fact, if early reports (including reports on ABC News) were accurate, they did not “stray” anywhere, as they were specifically warned by Iranian border guards to halt, and they chose not to pay any attention — their conduct was deliberate. I’m not sure whether they were just being incredibly arrogant in that classic way many Americans have when they’re abroad, or incredibly stupid, or both. It appears that some folks need reminding that they don’t in fact own the entire world, and that they are not entitled to do whatever they please, whenever and wherever they please. Idiots. Arrogant idiots.
Posted by: Steve | August 8, 2009, 4:54 am 4:54 am
Wow, I’m adding hiking the Iran-Iraq border to my agenda. Just as soon as I’m done backpacking through Somalia.
Posted by: Alaskan4Alaska | August 8, 2009, 5:32 am 5:32 am
Well, what happened with old muslim civilisation? Those who gived us the arabic numbers and so many poems? “Borders not properly delimited”, militias, airport arrests, women and children beaten and killed at home for simple things like right to education or wearing pants…
Maybe we should reconsider muslims as people deserving our consideration. And yes, maybe they deserve to be isolated as nations… this is the best thing to do. I will never travel in such a country where there is so much misery. Let Iran and other countries like them alone in their dark if they want to. Tourists deserve to be treated like this if they do not listened the patrol warnings… If you go to the jungle, you are eaten by lions…
Posted by: Vasile Braileanu | August 8, 2009, 5:37 am 5:37 am
It didn’t take long AT ALL for Obama to have his own hostage crisis… Jimmy Carter has to wait until his Administration only had 444 days left to go.
Obama sure is efficient!!!
Posted by: Laughing_All_The__Way | August 8, 2009, 5:53 am 5:53 am
Let’s turn this around for a moment: three Iranians wander into US territory along the Arizona/Mexico border and get picked up by the Border Patrol (if they’re lucky enough to avoid the Minutemen) claiming they were just out hiking. You know, like Gov. Sanford was hiking the Appalachian Trail . . .
They’d be in Gitmo so fast the black burlap bags on their heads would spin.
Posted by: bobdevo | August 8, 2009, 8:18 am 8:18 am
I understand these people were warned in Iraq not to hike in this area, but they were heedless. I don’t feel sorry for them, but I hope they are OK.
Posted by: Puzzled | August 8, 2009, 8:35 am 8:35 am
These two should be left to the Iranians, to do whatever they want with them. They knew exactly what they were doing
Posted by: DL | August 8, 2009, 8:44 am 8:44 am
Maybe, when released, they could hike the Appalachian trail and meet famous people like Governor Sanford. They could walk, they say, from Columbia, SC to Buenos Aires–and beyond!
Posted by: Jack W | August 8, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am
If you stand at the edge of the dock you may just fall in and get wet. If they were really just civilians, let them rot. If they were actually serving our nation, do what we can to help bring them home.
Posted by: teamster4obama | August 8, 2009, 8:47 am 8:47 am
This is Too Damn Ridiculous & Too Damn Strange…
1. The So Called Journalist in Iran, Arrested for being a Spy, Later Released after her Conviction.
2. The 2 So Called Journalist, Leave America,they then Fly to Communist-Socialist China [Red Flag] then Cross Over the N.Korean Border, to be Convicted of TressPassing & Spying, to later be Freed.
3.The US Army Soldier in Afghanistan, just ups and leaves his platoon and is Captured by the Taliban and being used by the Taliban as Propaganda.
4. Now the 3 Numb Skull U.S. Mountaineers Club…
Brainstorming: Hey Lets go to Iraq and make Our new Presidents Life, Ever More Exciting, lets Cross Over the Iran Border, Even if they Warn us Not To Cross Over…
Lets get Used for Political Gain [Iranian] and can You Imagine, The Media Coverage, After Our Release..
We’ll be Bigger than the others, who’ve Come Before Us !!
The Talk Shows, Book Deals and Magazine Covers.
________
All mentioned Above have been Warned to Stay Away from such Hotbed Areas as N.Kore & The Middle East.
All mentioned above, are Reckless and Irresponsible. They should all have their Passports Revoked and be Banned from International Travel.
I said and Mean it.
They are making President Obama’s International Missions a Living Hell.
He’s Handled these Situations Well.
I wouldn’t visit Hostage Crazed [Mexico] more Over be as Stupid, as to go Visit China, N.Korea, iraq or Iran and I just had My Passport Updated, for the next 10 Years.
These People are All Reckless & Irresponsible.
These Instances are Not Coincidental at All, they Look Intentional & Reckless.
Joe biden said President Obama would be tested in 6 Months, but he would Handle Cooly, Calmly and Collected. He has Indeed.
Posted by: Omni-Present:101 | August 8, 2009, 9:07 am 9:07 am
They are adult and thus are responsible for their doing. If they think that the world is America, then that is a big mistake and that American can do anything and get special treatment, then that is a bigger mistake. Like the other two journalists, they put our country in danger for their own agenda ( They are celebrity now. It pays.) Our goverment should continue with the country’s policy and just ignore them. Our soldiers risk their life every day for a better cause. However, I hope for the good ending one more time.
Posted by: michael | August 8, 2009, 9:30 am 9:30 am
I know at one least one of these people. he lived in the same punk house I did in Oakland for a time. They are definitely not CIA agents, though I don’t claim to know what they WERE doing.
Posted by: johns | August 8, 2009, 9:55 am 9:55 am
This story doesn’t add up. American hikers IN IRAQ taking a wrong turn INTO IRAN? Last I heard, Iraq is still a war zone and Iranian government is rabidly anti American, funding terrorists and providing training/giving supplies to our enemies in Iraq.
Posted by: DontUBelieveIt | August 8, 2009, 9:55 am 9:55 am
The truth of the matter is that these three never really did cross the border into Iran. The Iranian border guards spotted them through binoculars, crossed the border into Iraq and grabbed them as hostages. That is how those fanatics actually do things, and have for decades too. What is the appropriate response to this horse baloney? It is the same response, and the only proper response which has always worked throughout the entire history of this gread counry of ours: “SEND IN THE MARINES!”
Posted by: Ahmed Sharbat | August 8, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am
Well…don’t enter Iran or N.Korea or any other place without permission.
Posted by: Brad | August 8, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am
I guess just because you’ve graduated from Berlkey doesn’t make you very bright.
Posted by: Brad | August 8, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am
this is how they roll USD for paychecks, get captured for news. become rescued by the news….
did they jump off a cliff for this?
these creeps saved iran from being nuked
Posted by: cedar | August 8, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am
The CIA are a hell of lot more intelligent than these hikers,thats why the iranians use innocent people to justify CIA operations.the Hardliners of Iran have ROCKS in their heads and their people know it
Posted by: DON LOPEZ | August 8, 2009, 11:36 am 11:36 am
TO: Steve 4:57:07a.m.
After that there is always N Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Posted by: HP Lovecraft | August 8, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am
I think these people are your typical stupid rich kid snots who’re used to f*&@in’ up anything they want to for “kicks” and daddy rushes in to fix it with a large sack ‘o money. I don’t think daddy and his sack ‘o dough will suffice this time.
If this is so, then let ‘em squat in an Iranian prison for a year (unharmed), and when they come back they’ll be matured to treat life seriously and responsibly.
Little phuccs never had to grow up — that’s their entire problem.
Posted by: HP Lovecraft | August 8, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Now if Al Gore had sent them into Iran I’m sure Bubba would be on the next flight to Tehran. All it will take is a Clinton apology and maybe payment for all that good food our Embassy officials ate while being held hostage in 1979. Maybe Bill can give them some missile guidance software as a thank-you!
Posted by: Terry | August 8, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
Hey I got an idea…there’s a trail thru the mountains of Columbia they may like to check out or to the little village in Dafur might be a nice trek
Posted by: Brad | August 8, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Sheesh. A lot of comments here are dumb as a box of rocks, and xenophobic too. “There are plenty of nice trails to hike right here in the US of A!” “Serves ‘em right!” “They must be CIA!” That last one in particular is a hoot.
Apparently, having a sense of adventure is not held in high regard by many readers of The Note.
Posted by: Ellie | August 8, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
Ellie “A Sense Of Adventure”
The Government has Warned us, Not to Visit HotBeds like [Iraq, Iran & N.Korea]
If that’s what you Equate as “Adventure”
Take Your Oppourtunistic A!! to Iran or N.Korea and have Your Adventurous Desires Fulfilled.
A Fool Runs To The Flames Of Danger, where the Wise Call The Fire Department.
A Word to the Adeventurous and UnWise…
Like You, The Rescued & Freed Journalist in Iran, The 2 Freed Journalist In N.Korea and Now these 3 Stooges [Adventure Seekers]
Mountaineers, Like You, are Thrill Seekers.
I call Your kind ..
[Reckless, Troublesome and Irresponsible]
Go Seek Your Adventure, But Not at the Cost To This Nation’s Image or National Security or to Weaken the Nation’s International Policy.
Posted by: Omni-Present:101 | August 8, 2009, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
I have to agree with the
Iranian patrol nobody is so
stupid they ignore, guys
with guns telling you to go
away. They must be spies. So
this is purely a Clinton,
Obama created situation.
Posted by: Richard | August 8, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
I wished we could hear more about their “hiking” plans in detail. Did they have a map? Were they planning to visit the fabulous tourist site with Pistacheus and Date trees by the Bushehr nuclear site in the Iraqi Persian Gulf boarder?
Posted by: Lili | August 8, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
I hear the Swiss Alps are wonderful hiking this time of year. And the chocolate is supposed to be first rate.
I’ll bet all three hikers had some kind of i-phone or Blackberry with a GPS app on them that should say in flashing letters, “turn back!!”. If not, listen to the State Department when making travel plans.
Posted by: Seadickrun | August 8, 2009, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Reading through this conversation I notice a common theme among those from the right. The false idea that liberals hate the military. No liberals I know hate the military or those who serve in it. Liberals oppose the misguided military adventures. Uses of the military that are not for the purpose of defending democracy but instead are used to further special interests such as oil companies and military contractors. People die and are gravely wounded in war the suffering is real. As for the hikers, I don’t think we have enough information to determine the truth about this situation and if they are CIA, I wish they were better trained.
Posted by: Robert | August 8, 2009, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
People’s unthinking meanness amazes me. I’ve seen the website pictures of throngs of vacationers in these Kurdish towns which are actively promoting tourism. They are trying to understand the Middle East, and write about it for the rest of us. I admire their bravery, although I know they didn’t mean to cross the border, all reports say it is unmarked. Would we have all Americans stay home except our troops? I do know these young people, and the suggestion they are CIA agents is ridiculous, which you would know if you read any of their blogs or know them even vaguely. I hope they will be released soon, and unharmed.
Posted by: Aleen | August 9, 2009, 7:56 am 7:56 am
Dont think there were really warned by Iranian border guards to halt, maybe that is a lie. I think there were arrested as soon as there were sighted.
Posted by: Mandy Coles | August 9, 2009, 8:43 am 8:43 am
Has any of you done any research on the people who are detained in Iran? Does any one of you know anything about them or what they do? Are you just reacting to and trusting the news that comes your way, joining the blamefest and feeling superior? Look them up and find out what they do.
Posted by: pctr | August 9, 2009, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
“…they did not “stray” anywhere, as they were specifically warned by Iranian border guards to halt,” -Posted by: Lucy Inthesky
Because the other government’s reporting officials said the guards had done it before the travelers entered the border must have meant it had actually been done? This is not necessarily the case. In addition, if the verbal command had been exercised it also might have simply been done because the travelers were about to arrested. There are often misconstructs of information to communicate validity of certain actions.
Posted by: Oneperson | September 18, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Can someone tell me what has happen to the three hikers being held in Tehran?
Posted by: Berta | February 17, 2010, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
They are not hikers; they are pro-Palestinian activists. The plan was to become human shields and/or hostages. These anti-Semites wanted to set up a prisoner swap with Israel. It goes like this. Iran releases the anti Israel activists, in exchange Israel releases Palestinian terrorists. That was the plan from day one. The three want to speed up the demise of Israel. Their motives are sinister and they are lucky the were not shot on site. These rich Berkeley pukes got in over their heads. Now they are scared. Let them rot in Iran forever.
Posted by: John | August 20, 2011, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm