Iran releases French citizen imprisoned for more than 880 days

Diplomats now working to secure release of two more citizens after backpacker Olivier Grondeau finally freed

France is stepping up efforts to secure the release of two more of its citizens in Iran after Tehran freed a French man imprisoned for more than 880 days.

News that Olivier Grondeau, arrested in Iran in October 2022 and sentenced to five years on charges of spying, had returned to France was announced by Emmanuel Macron. Macron gave no details of the negotiations leading to his release, though it came on Nowruz, the Persian new year, when Iran has released prisoners in the past.