TEHRAN, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen Iranian fishermen were released about eight years after being held by the Somalian al-Shabaab militant group, Tasnim News Agency reported Sunday.
Following intensive diplomatic efforts, the Iranian foreign ministry "successfully negotiated the release of the hostages held by the al-Shabaab group in Somalia," said the Tasnim report.
The released fishermen arrived in Tehran from Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, on Saturday night.
Al-Shabaab kidnapped the Iranian fishermen in international waters near Somalia in 2015. ■
