Freed hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer rejoice with families

Racing to meet the outstretched arms of their cheering families on the tarmac in Oman's capital, American hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer alighted from the plane that had whisked them out of Iran, and reveled finally at the room to romp.

Bauer spun in the arms of his fiancee, Sarah Shourd, who had been set free in similar fashion a year ago. Fattal, of Elkins Park, gripped his brother, Alex, in an endless bear hug.

For 26 months, Fattal and Bauer, both 29, were imprisoned in Iran, which last month convicted them of espionage - charges that they and supporters all the way up to President Obama had denied - and imposed eight-year sentences. Their continued detention had further inflamed tensions between the United States and the Islamic Republic.

A flurry of diplomatic activity over the last week, principally by Omani, Iraqi, and Swiss go-betweens, produced their freedom Wednesday after $1 million was paid anonymously, through Omani mediation, in what Iran called "bail" to free the pair.

"Today can only be described as the best day of our lives," the men's families said in a statement. "The joy and relief we feel . . . knows no bounds."

At a brief news conference at the Muscat airport, Fattal and Bauer looked clean but tired.

"We are so happy we are free, and so relieved we are free," Fattal said. "Our deepest gratitude goes toward his majesty, Sultan Qaboos of Oman, for obtaining our release."

"Two years in prison is too long," said Bauer, who is from Minnesota, "and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in America and Iran."

They took no questions. Omani authorities said they would probably spend at least one day in the Persian Gulf nation before returning to the United States.

Obama, speaking to reporters at the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York, said he was "thrilled for the moms" - Laura Fattal and Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey - who had visited him in the Oval Office to plead for his help. The mothers last saw their sons during a brief visit the women were allowed in Tehran in May 2010.

"The tireless advocacy of their families over these two years has won my admiration, and is now coming to an end with Josh and Shane back in their arms," the president said in an earlier White House statement.