Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran’s regime, confirmed in an interview with Le Monde that Lennart Monterlos, an 18-year-old French-German tourist, has been arrested in Iran. This young French citizen has had no contact with his family since June 15.
On Thursday, July 10, Araghchi told Le Monde that the cyclist had been arrested for committing a crime, and that a notice had been sent to the French Embassy. He did not provide further details.
The French Foreign Ministry also stated that it is in contact with Iranian regime officials and Monterlos’s family.
The ministry, stressing that his life may be in danger, declined to make any further comment.
On July 7, the French Foreign Ministry also announced that Monterlos, who had traveled to Iran, had not been in contact with his family since June 16.
On July 6, a French diplomatic source described the disappearance of the 18-year-old as “a matter of concern,” adding that they are in contact with his family.
The unnamed source also emphasized that French citizens are advised not to travel to Iran, citing Iran’s regime’s deliberate policy of taking Western citizens hostage.
After receiving his high school diploma, the French-German tourist embarked on an adventurous trip from France to Japan. He had shared various photos from his journey, including his arrival and travels in Iran, on his Instagram page.
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News of this tourist’s disappearance emerges amid growing concerns over the fate of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two other French nationals imprisoned in Iran.
They face charges including “espionage for Mossad,” “plotting to overthrow Iran’s regime,” and “corruption on earth”—accusations that could potentially lead to the death penalty.
Over the past decades, Iran’s regime’s security and judicial institutions have repeatedly and arbitrarily arrested and detained foreign nationals and dual citizens.
France and other European Union member states have described these arrests as politically motivated and part of the Iranian regime’s “hostage diplomacy” strategy.
