The Obama administration says it is hopeful Iran will soon release two jailed American hikers, despite conflicting statements from the Iranian judiciary and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The judiciary caused confusion this week after denying Ahmadinejad’s announcement that the hikers would be freed. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been imprisoned for more than two years after being arrested while hiking near the Iraq-Iran border. On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said the United States has received assurances the pair will be released.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta: “It’s very difficult for us to try to speculate as to the differences and battles that are going on in the political leadership within Iran and really understand just exactly what the nature of that is. Our goal here is to try to get these hikers released. And we’ve been assured that steps will be taken to make that happen.”