Iran confirms release of US prisoner

TEHRAN - Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday confirmed the release of US prisoner Michael White, official IRNA news agency reported.

White was freed by a decree of an Iranian judge for human rights considerations and left the country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted as saying.

White, a US Navy veteran, was detained nearly two years ago in Iran for security reasons.

On Wednesday, an Iranian scientist, Sirous Asgari, held by the American authorities returned to Iran.

Iran, however, denied that Asgari has been released as part of a prisoner swap with the United States.

Mousavi said that the Iranian scientist was released after being acquitted of charges.