Overview

• Iran’s foreign ministry notified the French embassy that 18-year-old Lennart Monterlos has been detained for committing an unspecified crime after disappearing on June 16.
• France is maintaining confidential contact with Iranian authorities and Monterlos’s family, citing safety concerns for the teenager.
• The confirmation is likely to deepen strains between Paris and Tehran, which already clash over the detentions of Jacques Paris and Cécile Kohler.
• Paris filed a case at the International Court of Justice in May over consular rights violations and is preparing to extend its legal challenge to cover Monterlos.
• French authorities have issued travel advisories against non-essential trips to Iran and are coordinating with European partners on potential sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal framework.