Seven French nationals are currently detained in Iran, says Catherine Colonna

Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister, denounced a “hostage diplomacy” set up by Iran.

Here, the minister on July 18, 2022. © AFP / BENOIT TESSIER

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Until now, it was known that Iran held five French or Franco-Iranian nationals.

But today, we learn that two other French nationals have been arrested, bringing to seven the number of French detainees in the prisons of the Islamic Republic.

This was indicated this Saturday to the daily

Le Parisien, 

Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

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Catherine Colonna assures that her ministry is mobilized to have them released.

In this

interview with the newspaper

Le Parisien

,

the head of French diplomacy confirms that there are currently seven and not five French or Franco-Iranians detained in Iranian prisons.

For “ 

false reasons

 ”, believes the minister.

She asks for their immediate release and consular visitation rights.

In an exchange with his Iranian counterpart, the latter would have made a commitment to respect this right.

The head of French diplomacy reminds Iran of its international obligations and sends this warning to Tehran.

“ 

If his goal was to blackmail, it must not work.

This is the wrong way to go about France

 ,” says Catherine Colonna.

She denounces this “ 

hostage diplomacy

 ”.

Twenty Western nationals detained

According to information published Friday by

Le Figaro

, the two French nationals have been imprisoned for several months already, that is to say before the start of the unprecedented demonstrations which have shaken Iran since September 16.

In all, more than twenty nationals of Western countries, mostly dual nationals, are detained or stranded in Iran.

France has called on its nationals to leave the country as soon as possible so as not to expose themselves to the risk of arbitrary detention.

►Also read: Iran broadcasts a video presented as the "confessions" of espionage by two arrested Frenchmen

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