Tehran has released the two Azeri nationals who were arrested in May on espionage charges, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday.

“Today, on Tuesday afternoon, the two individuals were handed over to the Consulate of the Republic of Azerbaijan in [the Iranian city of] Tabriz, based on the friendly and brotherly ties between the two countries,” Mehmanparast was quoted by Press TV as saying.

The two detainees, Shahryar Hajizadeh and Farid Husseinov, were released at the request of high-ranking Azeri officials, the diplomat said.

Tehran said Hajizadeh and Husseinov had entered Iran through a fake invitation and obtained “confidential information and images from the strategic locations and facilities.”