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Iran, France in Prisoner Swap

A member of Iranian Border Guards wears a protective face mask, following an outbreak of the new coronavirus, inside the Shalamcha Border Crossing, March 8, 2020. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani
A member of Iranian Border Guards wears a protective face mask, following an outbreak of the new coronavirus, inside the Shalamcha Border Crossing, March 8, 2020. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani
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Iran, France in Prisoner Swap

A member of Iranian Border Guards wears a protective face mask, following an outbreak of the new coronavirus, inside the Shalamcha Border Crossing, March 8, 2020. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani
A member of Iranian Border Guards wears a protective face mask, following an outbreak of the new coronavirus, inside the Shalamcha Border Crossing, March 8, 2020. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani

Iranian authorities have released French academic Roland Marchal, who has been imprisoned in Iran since June 2019, a French presidency official said on Saturday after

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Iran to also release French researcher Fariba Adelkhah, who is still imprisoned.

The official spoke after Iran's state broadcaster IRIB said on its website that Paris has released Jalal Ruhollahnejad, an Iranian engineer wanted by the US authorities over sanctions charges.

"Roland Gabriel Marchal, who was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for acting against national security ... had his sentence reduced and was released from prison today and handed over to the French embassy in Tehran," IRIB also reported.

France had demanded that Iran release Marchal, a senior researcher at Sciences Po university whose arrest was reported by Paris in mid-October.

There had been talk of an exchange being discussed, but French officials had refused to comment directly, saying only that there had been progress in recent days.

In May, a French court approved the extradition of Rouhollahnejad to the United States to face charges of attempting to illegally import US technology for military purposes on behalf of an Iranian company which US officials said was linked to the Revolutionary Guards.

France has for months also demanded that Iran release Adelkhah who like Marchal was detained in June 2019.

Adelkhah is a citizen of both Iran and France, but Tehran does not recognize dual nationality.

Rights activists have accused Iran of arresting dual nationals and foreign citizens in an attempt to win concessions from other countries.

Iran has in recent months carried out prisoner exchanges with the US, Australia and Germany.

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UK Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan Officials as Maduro Sworn in as President

President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores react on the day of his inauguration for a third six-year term in Caracas, Venezuela January 10, 2025. (Reuters)
President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores react on the day of his inauguration for a third six-year term in Caracas, Venezuela January 10, 2025. (Reuters)
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UK Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan Officials as Maduro Sworn in as President

President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores react on the day of his inauguration for a third six-year term in Caracas, Venezuela January 10, 2025. (Reuters)
President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores react on the day of his inauguration for a third six-year term in Caracas, Venezuela January 10, 2025. (Reuters)

Britain announced new sanctions on Friday against 15 people associated with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, saying they were responsible for human rights violations and undermining democracy and the rule of law.

The sanctions target 15 individuals, including the head of Venezuela's top court, members of the security forces and military officials, Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement.

The sanctions were announced on the day of Maduro's inauguration for a third term and coincided with sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union member states. He has remained in power despite a dispute over an election and international calls for him to stand aside.

Maduro and his government have always rejected sanctions by the United States and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an "economic war" designed to cripple Venezuela.

Maduro and his allies have cheered what they say is the country’s resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions.  

Venezuela's electoral authority and top court say Maduro, whose time in office has been marked by a deep economic and social crisis, won last year's presidential vote, though they have not published detailed tallies.  

Those targeted by Britain's sanctions will face travel bans and asset freezes, preventing them from entering Britain and from holding funds or economic resources in Britain.