( CNN ) -- Actor Sean Penn helped play a role in securing this week 's release of two U.S. hikers imprisoned in Iran for more than two years , his representative confirmed Friday . The report was first published by the Reuters news agency , which cited a source close to the release process as saying that Penn flew to Venezuela months ago to speak about the hikers ' plight with President Hugo Chavez , an ally of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad . Mara Buxbaum , a rep for Penn , confirmed the Reuters report but declined to provide additional details . Venezuelan state media reported Friday that Chavez was part of the mediation process that resulted in the release of Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer on Wednesday . Upon their release , the men were flown to Muscat , Oman , where their families greeted them with elation . `` We 're 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 . We 're sincerely grateful for the government of Oman for hosting us and our families . '' Bauer said , `` Two years in prison is too long , and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in America and Iran . ''
July : Penn travels to Venezuela to speak to reporters about the American hikers . Penn 's rep confirms the story but refuses to give additional details . This was part of the approval process , state media says .