An Iranian student detained in France has been readied for a prisoner swap, an Iranian diplomat told semi-official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday, a day after Iran said there was necessary will to exchange prisoners with France.
“The foreign minister announced that Mrs. Esfandyari was placed in the exchange channel and we have put together a political and consular package that both countries must implement,” the deputy for Consular Affairs at Iran’s foreign ministry said.
Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris, both French citizens, have been detained in Iran since 2022.
Iran has accused France of arbitrarily detaining Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student living in the French city of Lyon who was arrested this year over anti-Israel social media posts.
Iranian detainee in France set for prisoner swap, Tasnim reports
https://arab.news/nq5zw
Iranian detainee in France set for prisoner swap, Tasnim reports
- Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student living in the French city of Lyon, was arrested this year over anti-Israel social media posts
Jordan’s king stresses need to preserve Christian presence in Middle East
- King Abdullah II holds talks with religious leaders in Amman
LONDON: King Abdullah II of Jordan emphasized the importance of preserving a Christian presence in the Middle East on Monday during talks with religious leaders.
In meetings at Al-Husseiniya Palace with Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East and Archimandrite Metodije of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the king called for an end to the violation of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem by Israel, which he said was seeking to change the historical and legal status quo, the Petra news agency reported.
The king reaffirmed Jordan’s religious and historical role in protecting holy sites under its Hashemite Custodianship.
Crown Prince Hussein, Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the king’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs, Alaa Batayneh, director of the Office of His Majesty, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III also joined the talks, the report said.
King Abdullah stressed the need for all parties to adhere to the agreement to end the war in Gaza, ensure the flow of aid and prevent escalations in the occupied West Bank.
