Iran confirms return of jailed national in Germany

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday that an Iranian national who had been detained in Germany under the U.S. sanctions has returned home.

Ahmad Khalili, the Iranian citizen, was freed on Sunday night following intensive diplomatic efforts, Mousavi said in a statement on Monday.

Khalili had been detained in Germany "under the pretext of breaching the illegal and cruel sanctions of the United States and upon the request of the U.S. prosecutor," Mousavi said, adding that "he was on verge of extradition to the United States."

Khalili returned to Iran together with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday, he said.