Iranian Diplomat Abducted in Yemen Released, Returns Home

Nour-Ahmad Nikbakht was seized in July 2013 while leaving his home in Sanaa by gunmen suspected of being members of al-Qaeda.

Iranian state television broadcast images Thursday of the diplomat arriving at Mehrabad airport in Tehran.

"I was kidnapped by unknown gunmen and terrorists as I left my home to go to work," Nikbakht said.

He said "many efforts were made by soldiers from [Iran's secret services], the intelligence ministry and the foreign ministry" to secure his release.

Nikbakht was held by suspected al-Qaeda militants in a remote area between the southern provinces of Shabwa and Baida, tribal and Yemeni security sources said.

In January last year, another Iranian diplomat, Ali Asghar Assadi, was shot dead in an attack in a neighborhood in Sanaa housing several foreign embassies.

Following his arrival in Tehran, Nikbakht met Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, where the recently released diplomat thanked the Islamic Republic officials for their efforts to secure his safe release.

Amir-Abodllahian said Iran had set up a "special committee involving all the relevant parties" to work toward Nikbakht's freedom. "The efforts led to a special taskforce established by the Islamic Republic's Intelligence Ministry."

"Through a series of complex and arduous operations inside a restive region of Yemen Mr. Nikhbakht was freed from the clutches of the terrorists," Amir-Abdollahian added.

Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi told reporters at a press conference later in the day that Nikbakht's release was secured without Iran meeting any of the preconditions set by the terrorists.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team