**French Tourist Freed After Two Years in Iranian Custody**

Olivier Grondeau, a French tourist imprisoned in Iran for over two years, has finally returned to France amidst concerns for other detained nationals.

Olivier Grondeau, aged 34, is back in France thanks to diplomatic efforts that led to his release after being held in Iran since October 2022. The announcement was made by President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed joy for Grondeau's reunion with his family. Grondeau's incarceration stemmed from allegations of "conspiracy against the Islamic republic," a claim his family contests. This release marks a significant moment, but it also highlights ongoing concerns regarding other foreign nationals detained in Iran.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot shared a photograph of Grondeau aboard a flight home, calling it a “huge relief.” Grondeau characterized his time in custody as being “held hostage.” His family described him as an enthusiast of Persian poetry, indicating that he traveled to Iran for leisure as part of a world tour.

While this joyful news marks a victory for Grondeau and his family, the plight of other French citizens like Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris remains precarious. Both were arrested in May 2022 and are accused of trying to incite protests, which their families vigorously deny. International pressure, particularly from France, is mounting for their release.

Human rights advocates have raised alarms about the broader trend of the Iranian government detaining tourists and dual nationals, often using them as bargaining chips in international diplomacy. The issue is not limited to French nationals, as evidenced by the detention of a British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, on espionage charges, with Iranian media reporting their imprisonment in Kerman. Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was recently released after her own detention.

The situation remains tense, with calls for the release of other detainees that reflect a troubling pattern of arrests amid geopolitical tensions.