Iran arrests European citizen accused of espionage
Iranian authorities have detained a European national on accusations of "spying on sensitive areas of the country." The individual's nationality has not yet been confirmed.
According to Iranian media, the alleged spy was arrested while cycling through a restricted security zone in Markazi Province.
The Tasnim news agency reported that the man entered Iran around the time that Israeli airstrikes began, although these details have not been independently verified.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has reportedly arrested 22 people in the city of Qom, accusing them of spying for Israel.
'Twenty-two individuals were identified and detained for allegedly being linked to Zionist intelligence services and for stirring up public unrest,' said the Fars news agency and cited by Portuguese news agency Lusa.
Over the past week, Iranian authorities are believed to have executed several individuals accused of spying for Israel. Since the start of Israel's military operations, 13 people have reportedly been executed.
In recent years, seven French citizens have been detained by Iranian authorities, with two still being held in custody.
On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken wth his Iranian counterpart by phone, demanding the immediate release of the two remaining detainees.
'I reiterated my firm demand: Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris must be freed. Their inhumane detention is unjust. I hope they will return to France soon,' Macron said.
He also voiced "deep concern" over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
'My position remains clear: Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, and it must provide full guarantees that its intentions are peaceful. I believe there is a path to ending the war and avoiding even greater risks. To that end, France and its European partners will step up negotiations with Iran,' Macron wrote on X.
Cécile Kohler and her partner, Jacques Paris, were arrested in 2022 during a tourist visit to Iran. Tehran accuses them of espionage, an allegation their families strongly deny.
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