The Irishman kidnapped along with two German tourists in Iran has been identified as Mr Aidan James Leahy. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs has not released any other information about Mr Leahy.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Mr Leahy as the victim of the kidnapping. She said the department was "in close contact" with his family and that the authorities in Iran were continuing to work on the case.
Earlier today, it was confirmed a ransom demand has been received for the release of Mr Leahy and the two German tourists kidnapped last week.
The Governor's office in the south Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan confirmed this morning that drug smugglers are demanding €5 million for the release of the three.
Other reports said the Iranian authorities would refuse to accede to the ransom demand.
Spokesman Mr Gholam Reza Javdan, said a recent crackdown on smugglers had netted 40 tonnes of various drugs and that the kidnapping was likely to be an attempt by smugglers to recoup their losses. Some security sources believe a notorious bandit known as Shirouk may be responsible.
The three tourists were cycling from the historic city of Bam to Zahedan, the provincial capital, Mr Javdan said.
Security forces in the area have begun a search operation, and Irish and German foreign affairs ministries are investigating the claim.
Kidnapping of Western tourists is rare in Iran, but Sistan-Baluchistan is known for large drug smuggling racketeers who occasionally resort to extortion.
A number of European tourists were abducted near the region in 1999 and released unharmed. Those convicted of the kidnapping were publicly executed.
The latest report follows widespread criticism of the German Government in August, when it allegedly agreed to pay a ransom to free nine of its nationals in Western Sahara.
Fine Gael is to raise the kidnap in the Dáil today.
Agencies