Almost a week after the Quai d'Orsay, Tehran confirms.

The two Europeans that Iran announced it had arrested on May 11, accused of seeking to "destabilize" the country, without specifying their nationality, are indeed French.

According to state television, which broadcast images of these two people, a 37-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man, from their arrival in the Islamic Republic on April 28 until their arrest on May 7, they allegedly attempt to stir up trouble by meeting with teachers' union representatives.

"The Ministry of Intelligence monitored the two people in organizing and coordinating meetings with some people who consider themselves to be members of the teachers' union," state television said, adding that they were "trying to form a kind of demonstration to create unrest.

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Iran in the face of teacher protests

In an audio file broadcast by the media, a female voice, presented as that of the arrested French national, affirms in English: “It is a battle to obtain the majority of Iranians”.

And a man, who would be the second national arrested, says, also in English: "we should build a revolutionary 'package'".

Iran is currently rocked by regular protests by teachers against their working conditions.

Several of them were arrested, leading to other demonstrations for their release.

Earlier this month, the NGO Human Rights Watch also called for the release of nearly 40 teachers arrested during the events surrounding the nationwide May Day protests.

On Thursday, the French Foreign Ministry condemned the arrests of the two Frenchmen as "baseless", calling for their immediate release.

The Iranian authorities are holding several foreign nationals prisoner for reasons deemed political by Western countries, which consider that Tehran is using them as a means of pressure in negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue or to loosen the grip of international sanctions.

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