An 18-year-old Frenchman, who additionally holds German citizenship, has gone lacking in Iran throughout a biking journey that started on June 16, a French diplomatic supply was quoted as saying to information company AFP on Sunday. The lacking teen has been recognized as Lennart Monterlos, primarily based on social media posts, notably from Instagram.“This disappearance is worrying. We’re in touch with the household about this,” the supply stated, referring to lacking particular person alerts shared on-line. Nonetheless, the supply couldn’t affirm if Lennart is among the many Europeans lately detained in Iran on suspicion of spying for Israel.In keeping with the French diplomat, Iran is finishing up “a deliberate coverage of taking Western hostages,” and French residents are strongly suggested to not journey to Iran.The official additionally warned that Iran is “focusing on French nationals passing by way of the nation, accusing them of espionage and detaining them in appalling circumstances,” which, in some circumstances, fall beneath the definition of torture beneath worldwide regulation.Iran is believed to be holding round 20 European nationals, many in circumstances that haven’t been made public. A number of Western nations, together with France, accuse Tehran of utilizing these arrests to strain them for diplomatic concessions.Amongst these detained are three extra folks, presently unidentified, who’ve additionally been arrested lately. Iranian authorities declare two of them are Israeli spies, probably linked to the latest Gaza battle.Iran can be holding two French nationals, Cecile Kohler, 40, and her accomplice Jacques Paris, 72, since 2022. The Iranian authorities has accused them of spying for Israel, a cost strongly denied by French officers.French International Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has demanded their “quick, unconditional launch”, and stated Iran by no means formally knowledgeable France concerning the costs.“We’re extraordinarily frightened about their psychological state and the trauma of the bombings,” Kohler’s sister Noemie stated in an interview with BFM TV.
