Hope of a imminent release of the two Cal grads who have been held in an Iranian prison for two years is dwindling as far as any announcement coming this weekend.
The lawyer representing Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer told CNN Sunday that he was still waiting word about their fate.
Masoud Sharfiei also represents Sarah Shourd, of Oakland. He argued in court one week ago that all three of his clients were innocent of charges of illegal entry and spying.
At the time the Iranian court said it would issue a verdict within a week, but that did not happened on schedule.
The three said they accidentally strayed off a road while hiking in Iraq's northern Kurdish region.
On Saturday, Iranian state-run TV reported "Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expresses hope that the trial of the three U.S. nationals detained on charges of espionage and illegal entry will result in their freedom" and that lead to speculation their release was imminent.
Shafiei told AP this weekend he hoped that even if the Americans were found guilty, they would only be sentenced to time already served.
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The three Americans are friends from their college days at the University of California-Berkeley.
Shourd and Bauer got engaged in prison before she was released on what Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said were humanitarian grounds following health issues.
Shourd is back living in Oakland. Her mother and aunt are also Oakland residents.
