HRANA News Agency – The full identity of Olivier Grondeau, a French citizen detained in Iran, has been disclosed. Previously identified only by his first name, Mr. Grondeau highlighted his dire situation, along with that of two other French detainees in Iran, in an audio message aired by the French public radio station France Inter. He also appealed to French authorities for urgent assistance.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Olivier Grondeau, a 34-year-old French national, revealed in the audio recording that he and two other French prisoners are enduring harsh conditions in Iranian custody. This revelation follows earlier remarks by the French Foreign Minister, who criticized Iran for detaining three French nationals and had previously mentioned Mr. Grondeau only by his first name.
Mr. Grondeau’s mother told France Inter that her son was arrested in Shiraz in October 2022 (Mehr 1401) and subsequently sentenced to five years in prison on charges related to national security. She refuted the allegations, emphasizing that Olivier traveled to Iran solely as a tourist and out of a deep interest in Persian poetry.
The two other detainees, Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris, have been in Iranian custody since May 2022 (Ordibehesht 1401). Iranian authorities accuse them of inciting labor protests—an allegation their families vehemently deny.
In the audio message, Mr. Grondeau urged French officials to act swiftly, saying, “Cécile’s strength, Jacques’ strength, and Olivier’s strength are running out.” He appealed to authorities to “guarantee the lives of these three individuals.”
In response, the French government has summoned Iran’s ambassador and strongly condemned the detention of its three citizens.
