French citizen Olivier Grondeau freed after 880 days of imprisonment in Iran: Emmanuel Macron
The Hindu
French citizen Olivier Grondeau freed from Iranian prison after 880 days; France and U.S. push for negotiations with Iran.
“A French citizen imprisoned in Iran for more than 880 days has been freed,” French officials said on Thursday (March 20, 2025.) The release of Olivier Grondeau comes as France and the rest of Europe try to pursue negotiations with Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear programme.
U.S. President Donald Trump meanwhile has sent his own letter to Iran's 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to jumpstart talks. Mr. Trump is also putting pressure on Tehran over its support of Yemen's Houthi rebels as the American military has launched an intense new campaign of airstrikes targeting the group.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote online that Grondeau had been freed. He offered no immediate details of what led to Grondeau's release, though it came on Nowruz, the Persian New Year, when Iran has released prisoners in the past.
Jean-Noël Barrot, France's Minister for Europe and foreign affairs, posted a picture online of Grondeau smiling aboard what appeared to be a private jet.
“We will tirelessly continue our efforts to ensure that all our compatriots still held hostage, including Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, are in turn released,” Mr. Barrot wrote. Mr. Macron also raised the case of the other two French nationals held in Iran.
“Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris must be freed from Iranian jails,” he wrote. “All my thoughts are with them and their families on this day.”
The Iranian government did not immediately acknowledge Grondeau's release. Such releases of Westerners in Iran typically come in exchange for something. Earlier this week, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said France had arrested an Iranian woman who supported Palestinians, but said Tehran was still trying to gather more details about her case.
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French citizen Olivier Grondeau freed from Iranian prison after 880 days; France and U.S. push for negotiations with Iran.
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