In an email sent to the media, an Iranian official at the United Nations said he could confirm that Iran would be releasing Sarah Shourd very soon.
There were no further details about timing in this message, but earlier in the day reporters in Tehran received a text message from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, inviting them to a hotel in the Iranian capital on Saturday to witness the release of one of the three Americans detained.
It's unclear why the release is taking place now, although there was some suggestion by officials that it was to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
Public transport in El Salvador has been severely disrupted for a third
successive
day by a strike ordered by criminal street gangs. The groups ordered a 72-hour
shutdown
on Monday in protest at a new anti-gang law. James Read of our Americas desk reports.
Such is the fear that El Salvador's street gangs inspire that the simple announcement of the strike was enough to bring most public transport to a halt. Many businesses have also closed to avoid violent
reprisal
s. Thousands of troops have been deployed to protect commuters, and the army has been using trucks to help people get to work. The Mara Dieciocho and Salvatrucha gangs ordered the shutdown in protest at a new law which makes membership of a gang a criminal offence.That was James Read of our Americas desk.
This is Fiona MacDonald and you are listening to the latest World News from the BBC.