Iran releases French tourist held since 2022, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that a French tourist, detained by Iranian authorities for over two years, has been released and returned to France. President Macron posted on social platform X that 34-year-old Olivier Grondeau is now "free" and reunited with his family, sharing their immense joy and relief. This news brings a sense of closure to a long and difficult ordeal.

Mr. Grondeau was arrested in southern Iran in October 2022 and sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "conspiracy against the Islamic Republic." His family has consistently denied these allegations. In recent years, Iranian authorities have arrested numerous tourists and dual nationals, often on charges of espionage and endangering national security. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot released a photo of Mr. Grondeau on the plane returning home, marking a significant diplomatic achievement.

Minister Barrot stated, "It is a relief that he is finally reunited with his family, loved ones, and homeland after being held hostage in Iran for 887 days." Mr. Grondeau publicly stated for the first time since his arrest in January that he was being "held hostage" by the authorities. His family describes him as an avid enthusiast of Persian poetry who traveled to Iran on a tourist visa as part of his round-the-world trip, highlighting the injustice of his detention.

Two other French citizens remain imprisoned in Iran. Teachers Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris were detained in May 2022 and accused of attempting to incite protests, an accusation their family denies. There are growing concerns about their health, and France has repeatedly lobbied for their release. President Macron emphasized in his post: "Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris must be released from Iranian prisons," underscoring the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Human rights organizations say that tourists and dual nationals are often held as bargaining chips for diplomatic negotiations, only to be released when Iran receives something in return. The British Foreign Office confirmed last month that a British couple, Craig Foreman and Lindsay Foreman, had been detained and charged with espionage. Iranian state media reported that they were being held in the southeastern city of Kerman. In January of this year, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, 29, returned to Rome after spending several weeks in an Iranian prison. She was reportedly held in solitary confinement in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, demonstrating a pattern of arbitrary detention.