TEHRAN, Iran – TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian authorities abruptly halted plans to release an American woman Saturday after more than a year in jail with two friends, dashing their mothers' hopes and pointing to the internal rivalries within Iran's leadership.

The about-face was an embarrassment to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who had personally intervened to get Sarah Shourd released as an act of clemency at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, according to state media. With just hours to go, judiciary officials blocked the release, indicating she must stand trial before an amnesty could be granted.

The 31-year-old Shourd was detained with two other Americans, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, along the border between Iraq and Iran on July 31, 2009. They have been accused of illegally crossing the border and spying in a case that has deepened tension with the U.S., a relationship already strained over Washington's suspicions that Tehran is trying to build nuclear weapons — something Iran denies.

Their families say they were hiking in Iraq's scenic north and that if they crossed the border, they did so unwittingly. Shourd has been held in solitary confinement, and her mother has said she's been denied treatment for serious health problems, including a breast lump and precancerous cervical cells.

The postponed release was not the first mixed signal in the case. Judicial officials have said several times that a trial would start soon, but few details have been made public, including whether the three Americans have even been formally charged.

President Ahmadinejad and other officials have also suggested the three could be traded for Iranians they say are in custody in the U.S., indicating Iran might be holding them just as bargaining chips.

Then in May, Iran allowed the mothers of the three Americans to visit them in Iran, releasing them temporarily from Tehran's Evin prison for an emotional reunion at a hotel in the capital where they were treated to a lavish meal.

On Friday, state media reported that Ahmadinejad's intervention helped secure Shourd's planned release in part because of the "special viewpoint of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the dignity of women."

Reporters had even been invited to witness the release.

Later, the IRNA state news agency quoted the deputy chief of communication for the president's office, Mohammed Hassan Salilhimaram, as saying the release was postponed and details would be announced later.

Tehran's chief prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi, said the release could not take place because "judicial procedures have not been completed," according to the semiofficial ILNA news agency.

An official close to the prosecutor's office said Dowlatabadi believes the release is unacceptable because Shourd should first stand before the court and then the amnesty will be granted.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

Patrick Clawson, deputy director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the last-minute quarrels over Shroud's release highlight the internal fissures in Iran's power structure between Ahmadinejad and others such as the prosecutor who could see him overreaching his authority.

"There are all kinds of internal pressures," he said. "A case like this shows there are various factions at play."

Last year, the brother of Ahmadinejad's main conservative rival took over as head of the powerful judiciary, reducing the president's influence there.

The president's effort to have Shourd released might have been calculated to try to soften international criticism over a stoning sentence for a woman convicted of adultery that has been temporarily suspended during a review of her case by Iran's Supreme Court.

Ahmadinejad might also have wanted to make a gesture of goodwill before traveling later this month to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where he has proposed having a televised debate with President Barack Obama on issues dividing the two nations.

In an apparent attempt to save face, an unidentified official in the president's office was quoted Saturday by the IRNA news agency as saying the postponement of Shourd's release was due to the Eid al-Fitr holiday, though that date was known in advance.

The American woman's lawyer, Masoud Shafiei, said he remains optimistic.

"Since the case has turned into a political and diplomatic issue and many officials have talked about a release, she could be released soon," he said.

The U.S. State Department and relatives said they had no immediate information about the reports that she would not be freed after all.

Shourd's name was not among the official list of prisoners freed at the end of Ramadan, further suggesting that prosecutors want the Americans to first face trial before any kind of pardon or clemency is considered.

Typically, inmates released during Ramadan have already been convicted.

Shourd's planned release had provided a long-sought sign of hope to the Americans' families, who have been pleading with Iranian officials to free their children since their arrest.

Now, they are once again left wondering what is going to happen.

"We don't know anything," said Samantha Topping, a New York publicist working with the families. She said the families knew only what they were hearing from media about a delayed release.

Associated Press writer Brian Murphy contributed to this report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

(This version CORRECTS that official close to prosecutor is not from the judiciary).)

FOXNews.com - Iran balks at release of American woman held for more than a year, pointing to internal split

Iran is just screwing with us now. I didn't think she would get released. There is a simple fix to this situation...... Not to mention that I haven't heard any media refrence about the missing former F.B.I. Agent that Iran has in custody.

TEHRAN, Iran – TEHRAN, Iran — A senior Iranian prosecutor said Sunday that authorities will release a jailed American woman on $500,000 bail because of health problems, another sudden about-face by Iran in a case that has added to tension with the United States.

The news came during a weekend of start-and-stop announcements about the release of Sarah Shourd, who was detained with two friends, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, along the Iran-Iraq border on July 31, 2009, and accused of spying.

The woman's Iranian lawyer met with the three Americans in Tehran's Evin prison on Sunday and said that he is hopeful Shourd will be released in the next two or three days.

Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi said the conditions of her bail do not bar her from leaving the country, though her case will still go to trial along with those of the other two Americans, who must remain in custody.

"Based on reports and the approval of the relevant judge about the sickness of Ms. Shourd, her detention was converted to $500,000 bail, and if the bail is deposited, she can be released," the official IRNA news agency quoted Dowlatabadi as saying.

Shourd's mother has said she has been denied treatment for serious health problems, including a breast lump and precancerous cervical cells. Her mother in Oakland, California, could not be reached for comment early Sunday.

The Americans' lawyer, Masoud Shafiei, met with them in the prosecutor's office at the prison and said he provided a final letter of defense in their case. He said it was the first meeting he was allowed with them in person since he was hired by their families to represent them in late 2009.

"All of the three were fine and I was with them for about three hours," Shafiei told The Associated Press. He added that he was hopeful "Shourd will go home within the next two to three days."

Shafiei later told AP Television News that Shourd "was naturally very happy and even the two male prisoners were glad about Sarah's freedom, but Sarah had expected all three of them to be released."

Shafiei said he has been in contact with the Swiss Embassy in Tehran to make arrangements for the $500,000 bail payment for Shourd. The Swiss Embassy represents U.S. interests in Iran because the two countries do not have direct diplomatic relations.

It was not immediately clear whether such a bail payment would violate U.S. trade sanctions or whether a special waiver would be required.

Shourd, who has been held in solitary confinement, was to have been released Saturday as an act of clemency to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan after the intervention of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But the judiciary abruptly halted that planned release, indicating such a decision would have to first go through the courts.

Iran has accused the three Americans of illegally crossing the border and spying in a case that has deepened tensions with Washington -- which has led the push for tougher sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

Their families say the Americans were hiking in Iraq's scenic north and that if they crossed the border, they did so unwittingly.

The prosecutor said the two other Americans would remain in custody. He said the prosecution's case against the three is nearly complete and there was enough evidence for a judge to issue indictments for all three on charges of spying.

"The three are still suspects and though the accusations have not been proven yet, they had equipment and documents and received training that shows they had not come to Iraq and Iran for entertainment," Dowlatabadi was quoted as saying by the IRNA news agency. He did not elaborate.

The prosecutor rejected any link between the decision to grant Shourd bail and the return to Iran in July of nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri. Iran had accused the U.S. of abducting Amiri, while Washington said he was a willing defector who later changed his mind.

In the past, Ahmadinejad has suggested the three Americans could be traded for Iranians claimed to be held by the U.S.

The judiciary appeared to be using the issue of Shourd's release to flex its muscles in an internal political tussle with President Ahmadinejad. On Friday, the Foreign Ministry had announced that plans for her release on Saturday were the result of Ahmadinejad's personal intervention and reflected the "special viewpoint of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the dignity of women."

Hours later, judiciary officials said the release was off -- an embarrassing rebuke to Ahmadinejad. On Saturday, Dowlatabadi emphasized that any announcement about the American's release "would only come through the judiciary system."

The mixed signals point to one of the main fissures in Iran's conservative leadership: Ahmadinejad and his allies against conservative rivals in the powerful judiciary overseen by Iran's supreme leader.

At times, Iran has also sought to exploit the propaganda value of holding the three Americans.

In May, for example, Iran allowed the mothers of the three detainees to visit them, releasing them temporarily from Tehran's Evin prison for an emotional reunion at a hotel. The elaborate event received extensive coverage on the government's main English-language broadcast arm.

In the past year, Iranian authorities have allowed bail or converted jail sentences to fines for two other high-profile detainees.

In May, French academic Clotilde Reiss was freed after her 10-year sentence on espionage-related charges was commuted to a fine equivalent to $300,000.

Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari of Newsweek was freed on $300,000 bail in October 2009 after nearly four months detention following the crackdown after the country's disputed presidential election. He was later sentenced in absentia to more than 13 years in prison and 50 lashes.

FOXNews.com - Iran Officials Ready to Release Jailed American on $500,000 Bail

What really pisses me off is she can be released now on $500,000 bail. We need to quit playing around with these a$$holes.

Not many people know these but SEAL Team 6 was created during the Iranian Hostage Crisis in the 80's. THey trained non stop to get into Iran, get the prisoners out and get out. These guys are trained to do exactly what this situation requires, out of all of our Special Forces, they are the best. They were created to free hostages and prisoners and to combat terrorism and respond to terrorist acts in progress.

Other then that there isn't much more thats published about them.

When I say using force I am talking in 2012. The Coward in Chief we have now won't authorize force to rescue the 4 not 3 American's being illegally held in Iran.

Once someone like Romney or Hunter become President they will give the ok for Seal Team 6\DEVGRU to do what they have trained for years to do, rescue American's unjustly held in Iran, N. Korea and other hostile nations.

Not to mention they are also trained in counter terrorism, remember when the pirates held that camptain prisoner? It was Team 6 that took pirates out. Here is a clip:

The USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) responded to the scene from over 300 miles (480 km) away, but pirates refused to cooperate. According to another report, that DEV GRU responded from an operational base in Manda Bay, Kenya 45 minutes away.[20]

Members of SEAL Team 6 parachuted from an unknown high altitude into the ocean near the scene to rendezvous with the USS Bainbridge, unnoticed by the pirates holding Phillips hostage.

The lifeboat had run out of fuel, and seas were rough. The pirates agreed to allow the USS Bainbridge to tow it into calmer waters, using an 82-foot (25 m) towrope. While towing the boat through rough seas, one of the pirates was seen leveling his AK-47 assault rifle at Phillips' back. The on-scene commander became concerned for Phillips' safety. In an unexpectedly inexperienced fashion (U.S. Navy staff on scene noted that the pirates were quite well versed in their tactics), the other two pirates on board the lifeboat showed their heads above deck. The commander gave orders to shoot.

The shots were fired at 12:19am E.T. (7:19pm local time), Sunday, April 12, 2009. Three snipers each fired a single shot simultaneously, each hitting their target in the head, and instantly killing the three pirates aboard the lifeboat. The shots were taken in the dark, close to 100 feet (30 m) away, from a ship pitching and rolling in heavy seas to another boat facing similar conditions.

United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Do you know the skill it took to make those shots under those conditions?

Bump.