Iran frees detained US woman on $500,000 bail

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran released an American woman on a bail of $500,000 Tuesday more than a year after she was detained, but authorities said they were not considering the immediate release of two companions arrested with her. The announcement came days after conflicting statements by Iranian authorities on whether Sarah Shourd would be freed as the process was complicated by political feuds over how a payment could be made for her freedom without violating international sanctions.