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Iranian Ambassador to Ankara Alireza Bigdeli announced that the Turkish officials have released an Iranian national who was arrested during recent unrests in Istanbul, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Turkish daily Today's Zaman reported on Tuesday that an Iranian national had been arrested on suspicion of provoking Turkish protesters in Ankara.

"After hearing the news in Turkish media the embassy officials got in touch with the concerned officials and then the Iranian Consular Office forwarded a note to them in which we had asked for confirming the authenticity of the news in this respect," the Iranian envoy to Ankara said on Thursday night.

"After making those efforts the Turkish officials announced that the arrested Iranian citizen had been freed," Bigdeli added.

Earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Araqchi categorically denied the news reports by some Turkish media that alleged "Iran's role in Turkey's recent protests".

"We have officially asked the Turkish government for an explanation in this regard and about the accuracy of the report, and we have asked Ankara to provide us with consular access to this person if his Iranian nationality is proven," Araqchi said.

"We also learned about this through media," the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman added.

Last week, Araqchi underlined the domestic nature of the current unrests in Turkey, and expressed the hope that the problems in the neighboring country will be solved by the Turkish officials' tact and wide domestic diplomacy.

"The conflicts in Turkey are an internal issue and we hope that this problem will be solved calmly and peacefully by the Turkish leaders' insight," Araqchi told FNA.

The protests in Turkey began last week as a sit-in over plans to redevelop Gezi Park in Istanbul's Taksim Square, but escalated after police used tear gas.

In Ankara, protesters tried to march on the parliament.

Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannon for a second day on Saturday to prevent hundreds of protesters reaching the central Taksim Square, scene of violent protests in which hundreds were wounded.

Anti-government demonstrators wearing handkerchiefs and surgical masks chanted "unite against fascism" and "government resign" as they tried to walk down the street to Taksim, a witness said.

Protesters also clashed with police in the Besiktas neighborhood, on the shores of the Bosphorus, after crossing a bridge in another apparent attempt to reach Taksim.

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