Rennath Monteros, the 18-year-old Franco-German dual national who cycled from Europe to Japan, was confirmed by Tehran authorities on Thursday.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut, without giving details, said the young man was “detained for committing a crime.”
He added that the country’s French embassy had been officially notified of the detention of French citizens from Zanson, the eastern French city.
Closing on the issue, the French Foreign Ministry said it was in contact with Iranian authorities regarding the condition of his family as well as his citizens.
Since June 16, the young man’s family and friends have not had any updates from him after the 18-year-old departed from the town of Valzane in central Iran to the desert east of Isfahan.
Until then, Monteros had documented his social media trips, sharing his last Instagram post on June 15th.
“Day 152 of the French and Japanese cycling adventure. Today I am in Iran and I am comforted by the crazy desert adventures and the heat of discovering the dunes near Valzane,” he told his followers.
In May, Monteros declared that he was planning to cross Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying, “At the age of 18, I am going to cross the world’s most dangerous countries (…) Am I brave or can I forget?”
France urges citizens to respect travel advisory
In response to news of Monteros’ detention, French Prime Minister François Beyloux urged the country in an interview with French broadcaster LCI on Thursday evening, “to not persecute innocent people who may not be aware of the risks they face.”
Nevertheless, Belloo urged young travelers to respect travel instructions, but he said the young cyclist “made ock ha ha.”
In a now-deleted social media video, while praised Iran’s beauty and local hospitality, Monteros has won a jive in Western media, where he appears to be terrified about the dangers of travelling to Iran.
The French prime minister added that French authorities will refrain from further commenting on the incident in a bid that “will not put the outcome of the situation at risk.”
Two other French nationals, Cecil Kohler and Jacques Paris, were charged with “Israel spy” in early July after being detained in Iran for more than three years. French diplomacy responded by branding fees as “completely unfounded.”
Human rights groups accus Tehran of using Europeans and double citizens as “negotiation tips” to implement hostage diplomacy policies to promote negotiations with the West.
Estimates of NGO hostage aid around the world show that around 15 Europeans and double citizens from Sweden, France, Switzerland, Cyprus, Germany and the UK have been jailed in Iran.
