Iran releases French national Louis Arnaud after over 20 months in prison

French national Louis Arnaud returned to France on Thursday after being held in an Iranian prison for over 20 months, accused of participating in nationwide protests.

Arnaud was welcomed at Paris-Le-Bourget airport by his family, with French Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Séjourné also in attendance.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Arnaud’s release on social media platform X, expressing gratitude to Oman, which acted as a mediator with Iran, and acknowledging everyone who contributed to this positive outcome.

Arnaud, a consultant in his 30s, was detained in September 2022 alongside other Europeans. French media reported that he was accused of participating in protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody for allegedly not wearing her headscarf, or hijab, to the satisfaction of the security forces.

Macron also highlighted his concern for three other French nationals still imprisoned in Iran, including Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were detained in May 2022. Kohler, identified as a teachers’ union official, and Paris, her partner, were reportedly on vacation in Iran. They were accused by Iranian authorities of protesting alongside Iranian teachers and participating in an anti-government rally.

The third French detainee has only been identified by his first name, Olivier.

“I call on Iran to release them without delay,” Macron wrote on X.

“We’re still working” for their release, Séjourné said on Thursday. “Our diplomacy is still mobilized… That will be the next victory for tomorrow. But today, we must be content with this great diplomatic victory for France.”