Tehran: An Iranian national, who was imprisoned in the Netherlands on charges of violating U.S. sanctions, has been released and will return home 'within hours' after the Dutch government rejected an extradition request from Washington, a Foreign Ministry official said.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Kazem Gharibabadi, deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, announced on X that the U.S. had requested the Netherlands to extradite Mehdi Kiyasati due to his alleged violation of sanctions. However, the Dutch authorities have denied this request, facilitating Kiyasati's imminent return to Iran.

Gharibabadi highlighted that Kiyasati's release was achieved through the concerted efforts of the Foreign Ministry, Judiciary, and IRGC Intelligence Organization. He emphasized that Kiyasati would be arriving in Iran within the next few hours.

The case of Mehdi Kiyasati has been a point of diplomatic engagement between Iran and the Netherlands. In 2021, Gharibabadi, serving as the secretary of the Judiciary's High Council for Human Rights at the time, engaged in discussions with the Dutch ambassador to Iran concerning the matter.