TOKYO: (Bernama-Kyodo) One of two Japanese nationals who were detained in Iran was released and will return home soon, Japan's foreign minister said Sunday, Kyodo News reported.
The one released had been detained since June, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Toshimitsu Motegi, the country's top diplomat, said on a TV programme that the person was released last Wednesday and got on a plane from Azerbaijan, bound for Japan.
"We are working toward the early release of the other individual," he said.
A nonprofit organisation has said the other Japanese national is the Tehran bureau chief of public broadcaster NHK, who was detained on Jan 20 by local authorities.
The Japanese government announced earlier this month that two Japanese citizens were being detained, and that it had requested their early release. - Bernama-Kyodo
