IRAN’S judiciary said yesterday the release on bail of two US hikers convicted of espionage was not imminent, rejecting President Ahmadinejad’s announcement they will be freed in a couple of days.

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged a “crushing” response to continued US condemnation of his nation’s crackdown on postelection protest, saying today that President Barack Obama’s criticism revealed his insincerity about improving relations.