Shourd meets Ahmadinejad in New York

US citizen Sarah Shourd, who was arrested for illegally entering Iran but released on bail one year later, has met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York.

The 32-year-old called the encounter a “very gracious gesture and a good meeting.”

She said Ahmadinejad seemed friendly and that it was a “very human encounter, very personal.”

Shourd is one of three US citizens who were arrested after illegally entering the country from neighboring Iraq back in 2009. The trio was later charged with espionage.

Iran released Shourd on September 14 after a bail of USD 500,000 was paid. Iranian officials described Shourd’s release as a goodwill gesture and a decision made on humanitarian grounds.