In a significant development, a French national who was imprisoned in Iran for over 880 days has returned to France, while another citizen under house arrest in Tehran has also been liberated, according to French authorities. This diplomatic success unfolds as France and other European nations strive to renew discussions with Iran concerning its swiftly developing nuclear program.
Meanwhile, as diplomatic efforts continue, U.S. President Donald Trump has reached out to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with a letter seeking negotiations. The U.S. also continues to pressurize Iran regarding its support for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, against whom American forces have launched an intense series of airstrikes.
French President Emmanuel Macron shared the news of Olivier Grondeau’s release online. The French Foreign Ministry confirmed that a second French citizen, who had been under house arrest for over four months in Tehran, had been released on Wednesday night but preferred anonymity.
The timing of these releases correlates with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, a period when Iran has historically freed prisoners. In previous interviews from prison, Grondeau alluded to the geopolitical reasons behind his detention, suggesting that he was caught in a larger political scheme.
Grondeau returned to Paris on Monday, according to his lawyer, Chirinne Ardakani, who confirmed he is in recovery. The Iranian judiciary had previously sentenced Grondeau to five years on charges of espionage, accusations refuted by Grondeau, his relatives, and the French government.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that France had made no exchanges for Grondeau’s release. He highlighted attempts to negotiate Grondeau’s release with Iran’s foreign minister and mentioned alternative strategies that ultimately facilitated the outcome, though he did not specify what these entailed.
The Iranian government has yet to acknowledge Grondeau’s release formally. Such releases usually require reciprocal measures; however, no explicit exchange has been reported.
In a related twist, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, noted that France had detained an Iranian woman who supported Palestinians. However, details about her case are still emerging.
Images surfaced of Grondeau aboard a private jet wearing a T-shirt with a photo of pop star Britney Spears, which he continued to wear as he reunited with his family in footage broadcast on TF1.
Grondeau’s mother had previously painted a lively portrait of her son as a former Scrabble champion enthusiastic about karaoke and Beyoncé, during interviews while campaigning for his release.
He was originally detained in Shiraz, Iran, during the Mahsa Amini protests. Amini’s death after her arrest for allegedly violating Iran’s hijab mandate had incited widespread protests and a harsh security crackdown.
In a January correspondence, Grondeau described probing questions from his interrogators about participation in protests and connections with Iranians, revealing the tense atmosphere under which he was held. He spent significant time in solitary confinement and shared cells with multiple other prisoners.
Grondeau recounted tactics like continuous lighting and blindfolding, indicative of the efforts to maintain psychological pressure. He clarified, however, that he bore no physical signs of mistreatment.
Detained at Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison, Grondeau’s specific situation has drawn attention due to the facility’s notoriety for holding political prisoners and Western detainees for leverage in international dealings.
The French government is also advocating for the release of two additional citizens, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been detained for over 1,000 days. Macron expressed his solidarity with their families, signaling ongoing diplomatic efforts.
While Grondeau’s release is cause for celebration, his lawyer noted that the continued incarceration of others tempers their relief, leaving a bittersweet note.
