A teenage Franco-German bicycle tourist, Lennart Monterlos, has been confirmed arrested in Iran after going missing in mid-June. Iranian authorities state he was detained for committing a crime, without providing further details. The French embassy has been informed, and the French charge d'affaires visited Monterlos. France has condemned the arrest, with Prime Minister Francois Bayrou urging Tehran not to persecute the innocent and advising against travel to Iran. Concerns persist regarding Iran's potential use of detained citizens as bargaining chips in negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi stated that the French teenage bicycle tourist was "detained for committing a crime," but did not specify the alleged offense.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou called on Tehran not to "persecute the innocent who are sometimes unaware of the risks they face," reiterating France's travel warnings for its citizens.
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