A German-Iranian woman who was detained in Iran for over four years has returned to Germany, her family announced on January 13, as a French national held since 2022 revealed his identity and warned he was "exhausted" by his detention.

The cases emerge at a sensitive moment in Iran's relations with the West, days before United States President-elect Donald Trump takes office and as Iran prepares for nuclear talks with European powers in Geneva.

Nahid Taghavi, 70, a women's rights activist who was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for participating in an outlawed group, arrived in Germany on January 12 after her release from Tehran's Evin prison.

"Words cannot describe our joy," her daughter Mariam Claren said. "At the same time, we mourn the four years that were stolen from us and the horror she had to endure in Evin prison," AFP reported.

Meanwhile, French national Olivier Grondeau, 34, identified himself publicly for the first time in an audio message broadcast on France Inter radio, warning that he and two other French detainees were struggling with their prolonged detention.

"Cecile's strength, Jacques' strength, Olivier's strength - it is all running out," Grondeau said, referring to fellow French detainees Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been held since May 2022 on charges of inciting labour protests.

Grondeau was arrested in Shiraz in October 2022 and sentenced to five years for "conspiracy against the Islamic Republic". His family says he was a Persian poetry enthusiast travelling on a tourist visa.

The developments come amid a flurry of diplomatic activity involving Western detainees in Iran. Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was released last week after intensive diplomatic efforts by Rome.

At the same time, Iran announced that Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian national held in Italy on a United States extradition warrant, had returned home.

Western nations have long accused Iran of detaining their citizens on fabricated charges to use as bargaining chips in negotiations. France summoned Iran's ambassador to protest the detention conditions of its nationals, which it said constituted torture under international law.

Earlier on January 8, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been released from detention in Iran and is returning to Italy after a three-week ordeal, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said.