The Trump administration has criticised the ‘unilateral’ decision of French authorities to release Iranian citizen Jalal Rohollahnejad, who is the subject of a US extradition request, in an apparent prisoner exchange with Iran. A French court had in May 2019 approved Mr Rohollahnejad’s extradition to the US.
Mr Rohollahnejad is wanted to stand trial in the US on charges of illegally exporting military equipment in violation of US sanctions on Iran. The US State Department released a statement on Sunday 22 March accusing France of failing to uphold its obligations under the countries’ bilateral extradition treaty.
The release came as Iranian state TV announced the release of French Sciences Po academic Roland Marchal who was being held on charges of violating Iranian security laws. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he was “pleased” at Mr Marchal’s release but called for the release of Fariba Adelkhah, also a French academic, who was arrested with him in June 2019.
Categories: France, Iran, United States
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