American woman freed by Iran is grateful, humbled

TEHRAN, Iran — The American woman released by Iran on Tuesday after more than a year in prison said she was humbled and grateful to Iran's president for her freedom shortly before she boarded a flight to the nearby Gulf sultanate of Oman where her mother was awaiting her.

Iran freed Sarah Shourd, 32, after a $500,000 bail was paid to win her freedom. However, the case that has deepened strains between the U.S. and Iran was still far from resolved.

Shortly after announcing Shourd's release, Iranian authorities said they are not considering the immediate release of the two Americans arrested with Shourd — her fiance Shane Bauer and their friend Josh Fattal. Iran has charged all three with spying, though their families say they were innocent hikers arrested in a scenic mountain area along Iran's border with Iraq.

"I want to really offer my thanks to everyone in the world, all of the governments, all of the people, that have been involved, and especially, particularly want to address President Ahmadinejad and all of the Iranian officials, the religious leaders, and thank them for this humanitarian gesture," Shourd told Iran's English-language Press TV at the airport before she boarded her flight out.

"I'm grateful and I'm very humbled by this moment," she added.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Shourd was being released on compassionate grounds because of health reasons. Her mother says she has serious medical problems, including a breast lump and precancerous cervical cells.

President Barack Obama welcomed the release but the families of the three Americans had mixed emotions.

"All of our families are relieved and overjoyed that Sarah has at last been released but we're also heartbroken that Shane and Josh are still being denied their freedom for no just cause," they said in a statement.

"We applaud the Iranian authorities for showing compassion in Sarah's case and again call on them to do the only right thing and release Shane and Josh immediately," the families said. "They deserve to come home too. Iran has no grounds to deprive them of their liberty a moment longer."

Obama said all Americans are celebrating Shourd's long-awaited return home.

"I am very pleased that Sarah Shourd has been released by the Iranian government, and will soon be united with her family," Obama said in a statement

Shourd's mother Nora said she has hoped and prayed for this moment for 410 days.