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Jailed French Tourist to Appear in Iran Court on Thursday on Spying Charges

A woman holds a photo of Benjamin Briere during a rally in Paris, France, on January 8, 2022. (AP)
A woman holds a photo of Benjamin Briere during a rally in Paris, France, on January 8, 2022. (AP)
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Jailed French Tourist to Appear in Iran Court on Thursday on Spying Charges

A woman holds a photo of Benjamin Briere during a rally in Paris, France, on January 8, 2022. (AP)
A woman holds a photo of Benjamin Briere during a rally in Paris, France, on January 8, 2022. (AP)

A jailed French tourist in Iran, Benjamin Briere, will appear before a Revolutionary Court on Thursday on spying charges, his Iranian lawyer told Reuters on Wednesday.

"Benjamin will attend the court to be tried for spying and acting against national security charges," one of his lawyers Saeid Dehghan said.

Briere has been held since May 2020, when he was arrested after flying a helicam - a remote-controlled mini helicopter used to obtain aerial or motion images - in the desert near the Turkmenistan-Iran border. He was charged with espionage and propaganda against Iran.

His trial comes as the United States and parties to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal including France are trying to restore the pact, which was abandoned in 2018 by then-US president Donald Trump.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners in recent years, mostly on espionage charges.

Rights activists have accused Iran of arresting dual citizens and foreigners to try to win concessions from other countries. Tehran denies holding people for political reasons.

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EU Welcomes Joint Statement Issued by Ukraine, the US Following Meeting in Saudi Arabia

The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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EU Welcomes Joint Statement Issued by Ukraine, the US Following Meeting in Saudi Arabia

The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The European Union welcomed the joint statement issued by Ukraine and the United States following their meeting in Saudi Arabia, including proposals for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian efforts, and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance, SPA reported.
In a statement to the European Council in Brussels, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas said, "All EU member states are ready to play their full part in supporting the upcoming steps, together with Ukraine, the United States and other partners."
The statement also added that the EU aims to support Ukraine in reaching a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. The ceasefire proposal, if Russia accepts it, could be an important step in this direction.