The release of the men came after discussions between the foreign ministers of both countries, Kuwaiti media reported.

Mehr quoted Iran’s ambassador to Kuwait, Ruhollah Qahremani, as saying the men had illegally worked as journalists in Iran while traveling on tourist visas, but speculation they were spies had been wrong.

In a sign Iran is seeking to soothe relations with the Gulf Arab states, Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi met Saudi Crown Prince Naif last week — the first official contact since the United States accused the Islamic republic of backing a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington.