Hiker Sarah Shourd Summoned Back to Iran

Photo Courtesy - Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images(TEHRAN, Iran) -- Iran issued a summons Monday for American hiker Sarah Shourd to return to Tehran for a trial on espionage charges, but people close to Shourd declined to say whether she will obey the summons.

Still in an Iranian jail are her fiance Shane Bauer and friend Josh Fattal.  The trial for the trio is scheduled to begin Sunday, Feb. 6.

The three were arrested as they hiked near the Iraq border in July 2009.  Shourd has said they were hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan and did not intentionally stray over the border with Iran.

Iran has charged the Americans with espionage.

Asked if Shourd, 32, would be returning to Iran, State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley said, '"I'll defer to Sarah Shourd."

A spokesperson for the Shourd family would not comment on her plans.  Neither would family members of the other hikers.

Shourd, who is from Oakland, California, was released from prison Sept. 14 last year on health grounds after discovering a lump in her breast.  Her release was conditional on $500,000 bail.  Iran has already said that if she does not return, she will forfeit the bail.  It remains uncertain who paid the bail.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio