Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stated that he has granted a “unilateral pardon” to Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the two American hikers who have been in Iranian custody since the summer of 2009. They are reportedly set to be released within the next 48 hours pending $500,000 bail for both men.

Last month, an Iranian court sentenced Bauer and Fattal to eight years imprisonment for espionage. Bauer and Fattal were detained along with Sara Shourd. However, she was released a year ago due to poor health (and half a million in cash.)

Ahmadinejad is, of course, scheduled to travel to New York next week to attend the Israel hatefest known as Durban III at the UN. This “unilateral humanitarian gesture” on the part of Ahmadinejad is little more than an attempt to obfuscate the real purpose of his visit to this country.