In this image provided by the U.S. State Department, Michael White holds an American flag as he poses for a photo Thursday, June 4, 2020, with U.S. special envoy for Iran Brian Hook at the Zurich, Switzerland, airport after White’s release from Iran. White, a Navy veteran who's been detained in Iran for nearly two years has been released and is making his way home, with the first leg on a Swiss government aircraft. (U.S. State Department via AP)

TEHRAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday confirmed the release of U.S. prisoner Michael White, official IRNA news agency reported.

White was freed by a decree of an Iranian judge for human rights considerations and left the country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted as saying.

White, a U.S. Navy veteran, was detained nearly two years ago in Iran for security reasons.

On Wednesday, an Iranian scientist, Sirous Asgari, held by the American authorities returned to Iran.

Iran, however, denied that Asgari has been released as part of a prisoner swap with the United States.

Mousavi said that the Iranian scientist was released after being acquitted of charges.