The coalition said initial intelligence reports suggested that the man was part of the Al-Quds force, which specializes in foreign operations for Iran, but it was later determined he was not a member of the elite unit. "It was determined that while the individual may be affiliated with several insurgent-related organizations, he is not a member of Al-Quds," ISAF said in a statement.

ISAF declined to comment on the nationality of the man. The man was captured during a night raid on Dec. 18 in the Zharay district of southern Kandahar province by Afghan and coalition forces, who described him as "a key Taleban weapons facilitator." "The joint security team specifically targeted the individual for facilitating the movement of weapons between Iran and Kandahar through Nimroz province," ISAF said in an earlier statement.