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By Kelli Arena and Terry Frieden
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Justice Department officials Friday expressed hope the United States would eventually win custody of the Saudi dissidents indicted Thursday in the Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 U.S. airmen.

"We don't agree with the assumption that we won't ever get these individuals back in the United States," a Justice official said.

The Justice Department official refused to comment directly on statements by the Saudi defense minister suggesting the Khobar Tower case was a Saudi internal matter.

"This issue concerns Saudi Arabia alone. The American side should send all the documents, complete proof and a list of the names of the accused to us, because Saudi authorities alone are concerned with this case," Prince Sultan said.

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"We can't comment on the steps we're taking in the process of seeking extradition of individuals," the Justice official said. "We're always interested in gaining custody of individuals accused of violating U.S. laws," the official said.

FBI Director Louis Freeh conceded Thursday those indicted may never be returned to the United States when he said "the people responsible for these types of horrific crimes will be brought to justice in some court. It may not be an American court, but they will be brought to justice."

A senior law enforcement source told CNN "what matters most in the Khobar case is that the accused are brought to justice, whether in the United States or elsewhere."