Swiss diplomats have for the first time been allowed to visit three American hikers detained in Iran, Swiss officials have said.
The three have been held since the end of July, when they strayed across the Iranian border from northern Iraq.
A Swiss foreign ministry spokesperson said they had had "direct contact" with the three detained US citizens.
The Swiss government represents US interests in Iran, with whom the US has no formal diplomatic relations.
"I can confirm... that Swiss diplomats have had access to and direct contact with the three Americans citizens concerned in Iran today," a ministry spokesman was reported as telling Reuters news agency.
Mistake
The trio are thought to have crossed the often poorly-marked Iranian border while hiking in Iraq's Kurdish region.
Relatives said Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal had made a "regrettable mistake" when they strayed into Iran.
The US state department welcomed the news. read more
