Eleven of the 29 Iranian abductees have entered the Turkish province of Hatay and was confirmed to be freed

Eleven of the 29 Iranian abductees have entered the Turkish province of Hatay and was confirmed to be freed, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told Al-Alam TV on Wednesday.

The Iranians who were recently kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Syria were freed with the cooperation of friendly countries.

The Iranian nationals are settled in Hatay’s gendarmerie headquarters, IRNA quoted an informed source as saying on Tuesday. The source added that the Iranian citizens will be handed over to the country’s officials sometime soon.

Earlier this day, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters at his weekly press conference in Tehran that a total number of 11 Iranian visitors have been freed with the cooperation of friendly countries.

Mehmanparast censured the “wrongful” abductions of Iranian visitors by unidentified groups in Syria, adding that such abductions cannot bring legitimacy to any groups or individuals.

One of the abductees told reporters that the kidnappers had threatened to throw a grenade at the bus carrying the Iranian visitors if they refrained from handing over their valuables. They also plundered the visitors’ money and other belongings, causing fear and horror among the travelers, according to Press TV.