Beghaei comments on French obstruction in Mahdieh Esfandiari’s Release

Esmaeil Beghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding efforts to secure the release of Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian detained in France, said: “At one point, it was suggested that if a location in one of her cities of residence or near her place of detention was proposed, they would cooperate for her release on bail.”

He added that several locations were proposed—by both the family and Ms. Esfandiari herself, as well as through colleagues at the Iranian embassy—but none were approved by the French authorities, citing various excuses.

Mahdieh Esfandiari disappeared in early March 2025 (Esfand 1403 in the Iranian calendar), and after a prolonged period of uncertainty, her family informed Iranian authorities. After nearly a month of silence, French judicial authorities confirmed in early April 2025 that she had been detained.

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office, in a statement, claimed that Esfandiari was being investigated for “praising terrorism” and other crimes related to social media activities. However, Esfandiari had only published a post on a Telegram channel criticizing the crimes of the Israeli regime against the Palestinian people.