"Inshallah (God willing) it is over.... the judge has signed the order," Masoud Shafii told AFP, referring a judge whose signature was needed for the posting of the bail in order for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer to be released.

"I am working on the remaining details... I've sent someone to the bank to post bail ... I will be in front of the prison at 3:00 pm (1030 GMT)," he added.

The release on bail of the two Americans has already been approved by one judge, and Shafii had been told on Sunday to expect the second judge to return to work on Tuesday.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reaffirmed in an interview released Tuesday that his country would release the two hikers despite delays.