TOKYO, April 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A Japanese national detained by Iran since January has been released, Kyodo News reported Tuesday, citing government sources.

The person is believed to be the Tehran bureau chief of Japan's public broadcaster NHK, the report said.

Contacted by AFP, the foreign ministry and NHK were not immediately available to confirm the report.

It would be the second release after the Japanese government announced last month that a Japanese national was freed by Iran.

Media reports had said earlier that the NHK bureau chief arrested on January 20 was sent to a prison known for holding political detainees.

A Japanese government spokesperson at the time told reporters that a Japanese citizen had been detained on that date but declined to give more details.

NHK had also declined to comment.