Iran allows Swiss diplomat second visit to detain hikers

The State Department says Iranian authorities have allowed a Swiss diplomat a second visit with three detained American hikers arrested for illegal entry near the Iraq border in late July.

Spokesman Robert Wood said Friday the Swiss ambassador to Iran was granted consular access to Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal on Thursday. He provided no details, citing privacy concerns. The Swiss, who represent U.S. interests in Iran, were first allowed to visit the trio in late September.

Bauer grew up in Minnesota, and his mother, Cindy Hickey, lives in eastern Minnesota.

Bauer, Shourd and Fattal were arrested July 31 after straying over the Iranian border while hiking in northern Iraq. All are graduates of the University of California, Berkeley. The U.S. government and their families have appealed for their release, saying they were vacationing and did not mean to cross the border.