A Spanish citizen, recently released from Evin Prison in Iran, describes it as "one of the most terrifying places" he has experienced.

In an interview with the Spanish section of BBC, Santiago Sánchez Cogedor revealed that he endured several weeks in solitary confinement within the notorious prison during 15 months of incarceration.

"I went through things I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," expressed Sánchez, describing Section 209 in Evin as exceptionally horrifying. He detailed the inhumane conditions, including being kept in a cell without a bathroom, only taken out once a week blindfolded for a brief outdoor break.

"That section of Evin generates suffering from another planet. I even talked to the ants there," he added.

The former paratrooper suddenly disappeared in Tehran in October 2022 during a trip in which he was walking to the World Cup in Qatar in an epic journey he chronicled on social media. Beginning in January 2022, he traversed Europe, Turkey, and Iraq.

The arrest reportedly followed his visit to the grave of Mahsa Amini, the symbol of the 2022 uprising who died in morality police custody, a visit he now says he was tricked into.

“Now I know that all he wanted was for me to take a photo and post it on Instagram."

Tehran is known to be holding more than 10 Western nationals, with accusations from governments and NGOs suggesting that Iran is using them as leverage in negotiations involving its own citizens.