Iran sentences 2 French nationals to jail on espionage charges

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

Iran has sentenced two French nationals detained earlier in the country on espionage charges to jail terms, the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported on Tuesday.

The two suspects, holding French citizenship, were arrested in March 2023, the report said, adding their lawyers have been informed of the initial verdicts, which were issued after handling their cases in seven court sessions.

Mizan said based on their indictments, the two suspects were accused of "espionage on behalf of the French intelligence service, collusion to perpetrate crimes against Iran's national security and intelligence cooperation with Israel."

The report added one of the defendants was sentenced to six years in jail for espionage for French intelligence service, five years for collusion to act against Iran's national security and 20 years in internal exile for intelligence cooperation with Israel.

The other one, it said, received a jail term of 10 years for espionage on behalf of the French intelligence service, five years for collusion and 17 years for intelligence collaboration with Israel.

According to Mizan, the defendants have 20 days to appeal against the rulings at the Supreme Court of Iran.