France raises its citizens detained in Iran to seven

November 12 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna, has confirmed this Saturday that there are seven, and not five, the French citizens right now detained in Iran, after the confirmation of two other detainees before the beginning of September the protests against the death under custody of the young Mahsa Amini.

“We had some concern for two other compatriots and the latest verifications show that they are also detained,” Colonna said in an interview with ‘Le Parisien’, where he accused Iran of exercising “hostage diplomacy”.

“It is more important than ever to remind Iran of its international obligations. If its objective is blackmail, it will not work. This is the wrong way to deal with France,” lamented the minister.

Iranian sources from ‘Le Figaro’ have confirmed that the two Frenchmen are in Tehran prisons, where they have been for several months, that is, before the protests against Amini’s death on September 16.

“We are asking for their immediate release and access to consular protection,” said the minister, who declared that she had had a “long and difficult conversation” with her Iranian counterpart, Hosein Amirabdolahian.

“The minister promised to respect this right of access. I am waiting for it to materialize”, added the minister.