Tehran's injustice

Iran has postponed the trial of two Americans held on espionage charges until Feb. 6.

Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were arrested by Iranian security police near Iran's border with Iraq in July 2009. Mr. Bauer's fiance, Sarah Shourd, was also arrested but released on medical grounds in mid-September of this year.

The Iranian government may summon Ms. Shourd back to Tehran for trial.

The three were hiking on the Iran-Iraq border and have paid for that unfortunate decision with many months in an Iranian prison.

The case has been delayed several times, to the anguish and dismay of the prisoners' families.

This affair has aggravated the already troubled U.S.-Iranian relationship. For reasons of its own, Iran has kept the Americans as bargaining chips.

U.S. diplomats should continue pressing, through their intermediaries, for the Americans' release. Perhaps someone close to Iranian officials should make the point that detaining innocent people reflects poorly on Tehran.

The case should be put to rest and the Americans returned home.