Iran frees Spanish soccer supporter detained in Tehran, confirms official statement

Santiago Sánchez, a Spanish football fan who was detained while on a journey from Madrid to Qatar for the 2022 football World Cup, has been released by Iran's embassy in Spain. The embassy stated that his release was made possible by the friendly relations between the two countries. Sánchez had lost contact during the final part of his trip and was reportedly detained after visiting the grave of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after being arrested for her hijab being deemed improper. Prior to his disappearance, Sánchez had been sharing updates on social media throughout his journey. He had started his trip in January 2022, passing through Europe, Turkey, and Iraq before being held in Iran for over a year. Concerns about his whereabouts had been growing among his family and friends. The embassy also noted that Sánchez is the only Spanish citizen currently held in Iran.