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Iran renewed its demand on Tuesday for France to release an Iranian businessman who is accused by the United States of having purchased sensitive electronic components and exported them to Tehran.

"The innocence of (Majid) Kakavand is evident and we urge France not to be trapped in American propaganda and release him," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters at his weekly press conference.

The 37-year-old Iranian engineer was arrested at a Paris airport in March last year following a holiday in France but was later released on bail.

A French court is currently holding hearings on a US request to extradite him on suspicion of having exported electronic components to the Islamic republic from Malaysia.