Iran Welcomes Conditional Release of Student in France Amid Exchange Talks

Iran has welcomed the conditional release of Iranian student Mahdieh Esfandiari from French custody, with Tehran pledging to continue efforts for her full release and return. Esfandiari, who resides in Lyon, was arrested earlier in 2025 over social media posts considered critical of Israel, and Iranian officials have consistently criticized her detention as arbitrary. The conditional release permits some freedom under judicial supervision, including regular police reporting and a ban on leaving France and accessing social media, while her trial is scheduled for January 13. France and Iran have engaged in discussions about a possible prisoner exchange involving Esfandiari and two French nationals held in Iran, though the details remain unclear. Esfandiari's lawyer confirmed the prosecutor opposed the release due to flight risk, but the court deemed the pre-trial detention excessively long. The case has sparked protests and raised concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of Iranian citizens abroad amid tense Franco-Iranian relations.