Who pays for hostage release in foreign countries?

I don’t know about international or Iranian bail, but within the US a bail bondsman would cover you for 10% of the bail.

Meaning you pay him $30,000 and if you don’t show up in court, the bondsman pays the court $300,000. He keeps the $30K regardless.

Seems the US government should cover it it’s the least they can do for a CIA agent or whatever those “lost hikers” are :-)

Governments usually pay such ransoms, but will understandably deny it. See an example here.

I understand it is top secret if the government is paying or more hostage situations will occur. But why does it take so long? The hikers have been hostages for a year.