a new trial date of February 6 has been set, but the judge has refused to allow him to meet with his clients before then. The trial was to have started November 6, but authorities said they delayed it because one of the Americans, who was freed on bail, had not been summoned toreturn to the country to appear in court. The delay adds three months to the 15 months the two men have already spent behind bars. Their lawyer, Masud Shafii, said he received an official notification Sunday of the new trial date. Sarah Shourd was freed in September and returned to the United States. Her fiancé, Shane Bauer, and their friend, Josh Fattal, remain in prison. Shafii said the judge turned down his request to meet with Bauer and Fattal—both 28—to prepare for the trial. “He replied, ‘You will meet them on the day of the trial,”’ Shafii told The Associated Press. “I need to meet them [earlier] to prepare my defense letter.” Iranian authorities said they freed Shourd as a humanitarian gesture because of unspecified health concerns, though she has since said her health is fine. Iran warned it would seize the $500,000 bail posted for Shourd if she does not return for trial. It is not known who posted the bail, but it appears to have been some Omani benefactor, perhaps the Omani ruler. She said the three were arrested July 31, 2009, when the stepped off an unmarked dirt road because an armed border guard of unknown nationality gestured for them to approach. When they reached him, he pointed back to the dirt road and said “Iraq,” then down where they were standing and said, “Iran.” Initially, Iran accused the three only of illegally crossing the border. Later, espionage charges were added. Tehran’s chief prosecutor, Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi, said in September that the Americans had “equipment and documents and received training.” He did not describe the documents or equipment. “They did not come to Iraq and Iran for entertainment,” Dolatabadi said.
