Iran has ordered an American woman to return to the country and stand trial alongside two other Americans accused of spying.

An American woman released from Iran after more than 13 months in custody began her journey back to the US today after asking her supporters to “extend your prayers” to her fiance and another American man who remain in Tehran accused of spying.

An American woman released by Iran after more than a year in prison flew out of the country tonight to the nearby Gulf nation of Oman to be reunited with her mother.

American Sarah Shourd has been released after more than a year in prison in Iran, television reports in the country claimed today.

The family of an American woman detained in Iran for more than a year is appealing to authorities to drop a $500,000 (€388,500) for her release because they cannot afford it, her lawyer said today.

A senior Iranian prosecutor said today that authorities will release a jailed American woman on $500,000 (€393,000) bail because of health problems, another sudden about-face by Iran in a case that has added to tension with the United States.

IRAN said yesterday it would try three Americans jailed since crossing the border from Iraq in July, a step certain to aggravate the US at a time when Tehran is locked in a standoff with the West over its nuclear programme.