stenza. but the big question is whether by the end of ramadan, these guys will be pardoned, in about ten days time. >> the sentences were announced by iran's state-run media. shane bauer and josh fattal each received eight years in prison for espionage and entering the country illegally. the two men and their friend, sarah shourd, were arrested a little over two years ago along the iran/iraq border. they denied they were spies, saying they were hiking and crossed in to iran by mistake. sarah shourd was released on bail last september. she flew back to the u.s. and never returned to iran to face trial. >> obviously, this could be the final -- >> reporter: she recently spoke with lester holt, expressing hopes that her friends would soon be released. >> that's what we're praying for. we're praying that the time for compassion has finally come. >> reporter: many thought bauer and fattal would be freed with time served as a gesture of islamic compassion. now friends are concerned about the toll the long prison term will take. >> the game, it's unclear what