TEHRAN: Iranian scientist Cyrus Asgari returned to Iran Wednesday after being released by the United States, the Islamic Republic's arch enemy, where he had spent nearly three years in detention after being charged with espionage.

Asgari, 59, who has been cleared by US judicial authorities, fell into the arms of his relatives on his arrival at Tehran's international airport, images broadcast by several Iranian media showed.

He was wearing a face mask but appeared to be in good health despite having caught the coronavirus while in US custody according to the Iranian foreign ministry.