Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Iran Releases Lebanese Businessman Jailed on Spy Charges VOA News Iran has released a Lebanese businessman who had been detained since 2015 on charges of spying for the United States. Nizar Zakka, who also has U.S. residency, was released Tuesday and flown to Beirut, according to Iran's judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili. Zakka was sentenced to 10 years in prison and hit with fine of more than $4 million "for collaborating against the state" of Iran.ã When Zakka was arrested, Iranian state media said he was accused of "deep ties to the military and intelligence services of the United States."ã Iranian officials said Zakka's release was partly due to the country's close relations with Lebanon's Hezbollah group.ã Zakka was one of several prisoners with ties to the West who have been detained in Iran. Iranian appeals courts upheld his sentence in 2017, as well as those of an American and two Iranian-Americans accused of "collaboration" with the U.S.ã His release came amid strained relations between Iran and the U.S. Ties between the two countries began to deteriorate after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran's nuclear agreement with global powers.ã Zakka, who lives in Washington, heads the Arab ICT Organization (IJMA3), which says it "fosters international cooperation and solidarity in the delivery of technical assistance ... in developing countries." Since 2009, IJMA3 has received at least $730,000 in contracts and grants from the U.S. State Department and USAID, the lead U.S. government agency that fights poverty and promotes democracy around the world. The State Department has not responded to a years-old Associated Press request for information about the grants.ã White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the White House is "thankful" for Zakka's release, but also wants other Americans detained in Iran to be freed.ã Sanders declined to say whether the U.S. government played a role in Zakka's release. ã .