Five French citizens are currently being held in Iran, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Tuesday, increasing by one the last number confirmed by Paris.
“I will speak to the Iranian foreign minister this afternoon to again demand the immediate release of all our compatriots who are held in Iran. There are five at the moment,” she told France Inter radio. Previously, Paris said that four of its citizens were detained in the Islamic republic.
The French government advised its nationals visiting Iran to "leave the country as soon as possible", citing the risk of arbitrary detention.
"All French visitors, including dual nationals, are exposed to a high risk of arrest, arbitrary detention, and unfair trial," the foreign ministry said on its website last week, adding "this risk also concerns people making a simple tourist visit".
The foreign ministry went on to warn that "in the event of arrest or detention, respect for fundamental rights and the safety of individuals are not guaranteed" in Iran.
French teachers' union official Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris have been detained in Iran since May 7 and stand accused of seeking to stir labor unrest during teachers' strikes earlier this year.
Two other French nationals are currently being held in Iran. One is French-Iranian researcher Fariba Adelkhah, arrested in June 2019 and later sentenced to five years in prison for undermining national security, allegations her family has strongly denied.
Another French citizen, Benjamin Briere, was arrested in May 2020 and later sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for espionage, charges he rejected.
They are among more than 20 Westerners, most of them dual nationals, being held or prevented from leaving Iran.
“I will speak to the Iranian foreign minister this afternoon to again demand the immediate release of all our compatriots who are held in Iran. There are five at the moment,” she told France Inter radio. Previously, Paris said that four of its citizens were detained in the Islamic republic.
The French government advised its nationals visiting Iran to "leave the country as soon as possible", citing the risk of arbitrary detention.
"All French visitors, including dual nationals, are exposed to a high risk of arrest, arbitrary detention, and unfair trial," the foreign ministry said on its website last week, adding "this risk also concerns people making a simple tourist visit".
The foreign ministry went on to warn that "in the event of arrest or detention, respect for fundamental rights and the safety of individuals are not guaranteed" in Iran.
French teachers' union official Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris have been detained in Iran since May 7 and stand accused of seeking to stir labor unrest during teachers' strikes earlier this year.
Two other French nationals are currently being held in Iran. One is French-Iranian researcher Fariba Adelkhah, arrested in June 2019 and later sentenced to five years in prison for undermining national security, allegations her family has strongly denied.
Another French citizen, Benjamin Briere, was arrested in May 2020 and later sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for espionage, charges he rejected.
They are among more than 20 Westerners, most of them dual nationals, being held or prevented from leaving Iran.
