Another Frenchwoman, who requested anonymity and who was under house arrest in Iran, was authorized to leave the territory, announced this Thursday of sources close to the file. This liberation comes after the announcement by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, of Olivier Rondeau’s release of prison.
The second released national had been under house arrest for several months, also said a diplomatic source. It has provided no other details.
“The announcement of the Liberation of Olivier Grondau was only made this morning because another French national was under house arrest in Tehran (the Iranian capital) For almost four months, “said Christophe Lemoine, spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “He could not leave Iranian territory until yesterday evening,” he added.
A diplomacy of “state hostages”
“No national, no French tourist is safe in Iran to date,” he added. He urges “urgently” the French not to go to this country which practices diplomacy “of state hostages”.
The Islamic Republic of Iran still retains at least eight European citizens. Iran affirms that these people are owned under a judicial decision. Their supports claim their innocence and NGOs (non -governmental organization) consider them as “hostages” used by Tehran to obtain the release of Iranians detained abroad.
A French teacher, Cécile Kohler, and her companion, Jacques Paris, were arrested in May 2022 for “espionage” while they were doing tourism. In September 2023, Iranian justice said that the investigation targeting them was completed, paving the way for a possible trial.
Some people can be detained without their cases having been publicized, as sometimes advising them with the authorities of their country in order to negotiate their release in discretion. In total, around twenty Westerners are retained in Iran.