Iran acquits French-German national Monterlos of espionage charges
Iran acquitted dual German-French national Lennart Monterlos of espionage charges linked to the recent 12-day conflict, the head of Hormozgan Province’s judiciary said on Monday.
Iran acquitted dual German-French national Lennart Monterlos of espionage charges linked to the recent 12-day conflict, the head of Hormozgan Province’s judiciary said on Monday.
Lennart Christian Jean-Pierre Le Monterles, described by officials as a German citizen holding French nationality, had been arrested in southern Iran on suspicion of espionage during the conflict.
He was tried by the Revolutionary Court in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province’s chief justice Mojtaba Ghasemi said.
The official added that although prosecutors had filed an indictment, the court concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt. Under Iranian law, the prosecutor retains the right to appeal the decision.
According to Le Monde, the 19-year-old is about to leave Iran and will be repatriated to France in the coming hours.
The verdict comes amid reports about Iran’s treatment of foreign detainees. Just last month, a British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, appeared in court in Tehran on similar espionage charges after being held since January.
Their family has described “inhumane conditions” and accused authorities of extracting confessions through intimidation — claims Iran denies.
Western governments and rights groups say Tehran routinely detains foreign nationals to gain political leverage in disputes with Europe and the United States, an accusation Iran rejects, saying such cases involve genuine security concerns.
Iran-France prisoner talks advance
Iran and France signaled progress on Monday in negotiations to exchange two French citizens held in Iran for an Iranian national detained in France.
Iran has detained French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris since 2022, while 18-year-old French-German cyclist Lennart Monterlos has been in custody since June.
France has repeatedly condemned their detention as arbitrary and accused Iran of subjecting them to harsh conditions in Tehran’s Evin prison -- allegations Tehran denies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested last month that the two could be exchanged for Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian woman arrested in Lyon in February on charges of promoting terrorism through social media.
“The decision regarding the release of these two individuals and Mrs. Esfandiari is currently being reviewed by the competent authorities,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, adding that the exchange could happen soon once procedures are completed.
Also on Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on France Inter radio that Paris had solid prospects of securing their release in the coming weeks, adding that France “remains fully mobilized and demands their immediate and unconditional release.”
In September, France withdrew its case against Iran at the International Court of Justice over consular access violations, a move widely interpreted as a gesture to facilitate a potential deal.
Iran has accused Kohler and Paris of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, charges both have denied.
The last prisoner swap between Iran and a European country came when Italy freed an Iranian national wanted by the United States for allegedly supplying Tehran with drone technology in exchange for an Italian journalist arrested in Iran.
Iran has in recent months repeatedly said that all espionage cases are handled through “legal and transparent” procedures, while maintaining that several Western intelligence networks have sought to infiltrate the country during periods of heightened regional tension.
