Iran has released six of eight Slovak paragliders accused of espionage.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who introduced the released paragliders to reporters on September 1 in Bratislava, said they had been treated well and denied they were engaged in any spying.
The Slovaks were detained in May after paragliding above Isfahan, where Iran has nuclear facilities. They say they filmed their flight purely to document their trip but ran into trouble for using two-band walkie-talkies reportedly banned in Iran, as well as cameras designed for extreme sports.
Fico said the two paragliders remaining in detention in Iran must stay "until further allegations are investigated by the Iranian authorities." He said he expected further negotiations to be "extremely complicated” but provided no further details.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who introduced the released paragliders to reporters on September 1 in Bratislava, said they had been treated well and denied they were engaged in any spying.
The Slovaks were detained in May after paragliding above Isfahan, where Iran has nuclear facilities. They say they filmed their flight purely to document their trip but ran into trouble for using two-band walkie-talkies reportedly banned in Iran, as well as cameras designed for extreme sports.
Fico said the two paragliders remaining in detention in Iran must stay "until further allegations are investigated by the Iranian authorities." He said he expected further negotiations to be "extremely complicated” but provided no further details.