Iran Frees Slovak Held for Alleged Spying

Iran has freed a Slovak citizen who was arrested last year on allegations of spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and paraded on state television.

"I am no spy and Iran only knows why they accused me of spying," 26-year-old Matej Valuch told reporters at a press conference in Bratislava on Friday after his release.

Valuch arrived home on Thursday, a day after his release by Tehran which reportedly detained him in August.

Iran arrested him on allegations of threatening national security and featured him in a state television documentary where he allegedly confessed to spying for the CIA.

"We reached an agreement with Iran that they would release our citizen from prison and give him permission to leave the country," Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said at the press conference.

Valuch left for Tehran last year to work as a headhunter in the telecommunications sector.

Iranian TV said he was arrested after being kept under surveillance by the security services for several months.

The television said he was accused of contacting Iranian scientists to seek information on "the country's scientific progress".

Tehran regularly accuses the United States of espionage in Iran, but it is rare for foreigners admitting such activities to be shown on television.