One of the two Japanese nationals who were detained in Iran was released, Japan's foreign minister said Sunday.

Speaking on a TV program, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the person who had been detained since June was released last Wednesday and got on a plane from Azerbaijan, bound for Japan.

"We are working toward the early release of the other individual," Motegi added.

Earlier this month, Motegi had requested the early release of the two Japanese detainees during a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.