The French Foreign Ministry has announced that a French-Iranian dual national, Fariba Adelkhah, has been arrested and jailed in Iran.
A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry told a press conference in Paris that Iranian officials have refused to provide a convincing answer about the researcher’s whereabouts and her situation.
French officials have also asked for consular access to Adelkhah. This request has also remained unanswered.
On July 14, when asked about Adelkhah’s situation, Ali Rabiei, a spokesman for the Rouhani administration, said he was aware of the arrest but did not know why she had been arrested.
Reports from Iran say that Adelkhah, a researcher who works with the Political Studies Foundation in Paris, was arrested on May 28 during a visit to Iran.
Iran currently holds several dual nationals who were arrested on baseless charges, and sometimes without any charge, during visits to Iran.
On several previous occasions, Iranian officials have tried to use these prisoners as pawns in their political dealings with the West.
