“ A
lot of lies have been told
” about the arrest of seven French people in Iran, protested the French president in an interview with Le
Parisien
.
“
These are compatriots who have come to Iran sometimes for academic or associative reasons.
There is nothing that justifies their imprisonment, it is unacceptable in our eyes
”, he further pleaded, assuring that French diplomacy would continue to “
fight to free them
”.
“
I put very firm pressure on the Iranian president so that their rights are respected and that consular visits are possible.
But above all, that we obtain their release as soon as possible
, ”said Emmanuel Macron again.
Read alsoSeven French detained in Iran
He had already, three weeks ago, condemned
Iran's "
increasing aggressiveness " towards France.
Tension has risen between the two countries as France has repeatedly expressed its support for Iranian protesters, and condemned the "
ongoing repression
" as well as the "
multiple attacks on fundamental freedoms
".
On Thursday, Paris had thus deplored the summoning of its ambassador to Tehran to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in reaction to the adoption by the National Assembly, on November 28, of a resolution "
providing the support of the National Assembly to the movement for freedom in Iran
”.
The same text called for "
the immediate release of French nationals arbitrarily detained
" in Iran.
And during the session, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna castigated the "
Iranian regime's massive use of arbitrary detention, censorship and violence
".