A Frenchman who had been detained in Iran for 887 days has been released.
On the 20th (local time), Emmanuel Macron, President of France, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that morning, "Olivier Grondot is free in France. I share the immense happiness and relief felt by his family."
He added, "I thank all national agencies, the French ambassador to Iran, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their decisive actions." However, he did not specify the timing or conditions of the release.
According to the daily Le Monde, Grondot was arrested on October 12, 2022, in Shiraz, southern Iran, during a world tour. On February 19 of last year, an Iranian court sentenced him to five years in prison on charges of "conspiracy against the Islamic Republic (of Iran)."
Until now, Grondot had not revealed his identity while waiting for release negotiations between Iranian and French authorities to conclude, fearing it could threaten his safety. However, in January this year, he changed his mind, disclosed his identity, and sent a message to his home country asking for efforts toward his release.
In addition, two other French nationals remain detained in Iran. They were also imprisoned in May 2022 on espionage charges. In September of last year, President Macron met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing that their unjust detention is a prerequisite for improving bilateral relations and calling for their immediate release.
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