(MENAFN) The head of the fisheries department of Iran's Bushehr Province said Saturday that Saudi Arabia has freed two Iranian fishermen detained by its coast guard in 2017.
"Two fishermen from Kharg Island, who had been arrested by the Saudi coast guard were released Friday after nine months," IRNA quoted Ardeshir Yarahmadi as saying.
The release came after consultations between the two countries" foreign ministries, he said without elaboration.
Yarahmadi said the fishermen had been detained after their boats drifted into the Saudi waters in stormy weather during which they came under live fire.
In February, Saudi Arabia freed nine Iranian fishermen detained two years ago, but a tenth fisherman was killed in the initial incident.
Tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia has escalated in recent years and diplomatic contacts between the two sides have become increasingly rare.
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