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Iran Says More Arrests Made in French ‘Spies’ Case

An Iranian girl walks on a pedestrian bridge in the capital city of Tehran, Iran, 12 October 2022. (EPA)
An Iranian girl walks on a pedestrian bridge in the capital city of Tehran, Iran, 12 October 2022. (EPA)
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Iran Says More Arrests Made in French ‘Spies’ Case

An Iranian girl walks on a pedestrian bridge in the capital city of Tehran, Iran, 12 October 2022. (EPA)
An Iranian girl walks on a pedestrian bridge in the capital city of Tehran, Iran, 12 October 2022. (EPA)

Iranian authorities have made more arrests in "the case of French spies", the judiciary spokesperson said on Tuesday, saying those newly detained had been accused of "conspiracy and collusion" with the aim of harming national security.

France lashed out at Iran for "dictatorial practices" and taking two of its citizens hostage earlier this month after a video aired in which they appeared to confess to spying. France has condemned their arrest and demanded the pair's immediate release.

Iran’s judiciary spokesperson Masoud Setayeshi, during a weekly news conference, did not say how many more arrests had been made in what he called the "case of the French spies", nor give their nationalities or any other details.

"In this case, other arrests have been made and the chain of information is about to be completed and will be announced as soon as it is finalized," he said, adding that the investigation was moving swiftly.

Iran's intelligence ministry said in May it had arrested two Europeans for allegedly fomenting "insecurity" in Iran, where people have been protesting since Mahsa Amini died in the custody of the morality police last month.

Iran’s state media often air purported confessions by suspects in politically charged cases.

In the video aired earlier this month, one of the two - Cecile Kohler - said they were in Iran to "prepare the ground for the revolution and the overthrow of the regime of Iran".

The video sparked outrage in Paris with the Foreign Ministry saying for the first time that the two citizens, along with two others also being held in Iran, were "state hostages". It said the alleged confessions extracted under duress had no basis and neither did reasons given for their arbitrary arrest.

Iran has repeatedly accused foreign adversaries such as the United States and Israel of stoking the unrest ignited by the death of 22-year-old Amini, who died in morality police custody after being arrested for "inappropriate attire".

Amini's death and a deadly state crackdown on the protests have prompted several Western states to condemn Tehran and impose new sanctions on Iranian officials, further souring already strained diplomatic ties.

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Iran Guards Commander: Hezbollah Imposed its Will on Israel

IRGC Chief Hossein Salami (C) with President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) and Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani during Soleimani’s memorial ceremony in Tehran last Thursday. (Tasnim)
IRGC Chief Hossein Salami (C) with President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) and Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani during Soleimani’s memorial ceremony in Tehran last Thursday. (Tasnim)
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Iran Guards Commander: Hezbollah Imposed its Will on Israel

IRGC Chief Hossein Salami (C) with President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) and Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani during Soleimani’s memorial ceremony in Tehran last Thursday. (Tasnim)
IRGC Chief Hossein Salami (C) with President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) and Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani during Soleimani’s memorial ceremony in Tehran last Thursday. (Tasnim)

Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Hossein Salami said on Monday that the “Axis of Resistance” groups, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, has “imposed their will” on Israel.

Salami was speaking during a ceremony in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman, where the body of IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani is buried. Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in January 2020.

“The enemy is worn out and does not know what it is doing. The enemy has nowhere to escape,” IRGC media quoted Salami as saying.

He said the “resistance front is at the height of its power”, and “the enemies have turned into objects of hatred and are apprehensive and this story is going to continue.”

The collapse of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime, the elimination of the top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah and the destruction of their military structure mark a succession of setbacks for Iran in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied on Monday statements attributed to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking about “the threat posed by the Islamic government in Syria.”

“Such news fabrications and the publication of false statements are designed to incite sedition between regional countries, and as a rule, these days, considering the developments in the region, one can guess from what source and origin it is being fabricated and dealt with,” Esmail Baghaei, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, told a press conference.

Baghaei said Iran’s positions regarding Syria are clear. “We respect the choice of the Syrian people and their decision,” he noted.

The spokesperson also stressed the importance of preserving the territorial integrity of Syria.

“The Syrian people should be able to decide for their future without foreign, regional and trans-regional interference, and Syria should not become a safe haven for terrorists,” he added.

Hours earlier, deputy head of the Basij Media Organization Major General Qassem Ghoreishi said: “Syria is currently occupied by three foreign countries.”

Ghoreishi said Syria is witnessing a “sad fate” and “we are witnessing the utmost grief and sorrow for the Syrian people.”

He explained that Syria is controlled by five separatist and terrorist groups, in addition the United States, Israel, and Türkiye.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that the “resistance forces in Syria are ready to be activated at any moment,” referring to Iran’s training of 130,000 fighters.

He told the Iran Observer that armed conflicts in Syria are likely to increase. “There are many factors that indicate the continued patterns of military tensions in Syria, and it seems that armed conflicts in the country will continue and possibly increase,” he said.

Concerning Iran’s policy towards Syria, Ardestani stated: “We currently remain silent, but this silence does not mean indifference.”

Speaking of Russia, he said Moscow has not given up its influence in Syria.

“Russia was keen to reach the Mediterranean Sea and does not wish to lose its naval bases in northwestern Syria,” Ardestani added.