A Japanese college student abducted in Iran’s southeast has been confirmed safe, but it was unknown when he would be released, a Japanese government spokesman said Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that reports of an assassination plot against him in Iran were an attempt to “wreck” his landmark visit here this week.

European governments are deeply divided over imposition of new sanctions against Iran, in what could undermine a new US effort to mobilize allies to act outside of the United Nations, according to European officials.