Iran: behind the scenes of the release of Benjamin Brière and Bernard Phelan

Freedom for two French detainees in Iran. Benjamin Brière, 37, who has always presented himself as a tourist, was arrested for taking photos with a drone in a natural park. For this, he spent three years in prison. The second, Bernard Phelan, is a 64-year-old Franco-Irish. A tourism consultant, he was imprisoned for seven and a half months. Accused of espionage, the two men are very weak after several hunger strikes.

Iran demanded maximalist guarantees

In order to obtain their return to France, the steps were accelerated and everything was resolved three weeks ago. Paris has obtained the agreement in principle from Iranian diplomacy to release the two imprisoned Frenchmen. In exchange, Tehran demanded maximalist guarantees, reports a source close to the negotiations. According to information from Europe 1, the regime presented French negotiators with a list of Iranian nationals detained in European prisons, asking Paris to weigh in with its partners to obtain their release. The Élysée became involved in the case by directly supervising the crisis unit at the Quai d’Orsay.

The first steps had been taken since Beijing in early April, when Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna met her Iranian counterpart. Several Gulf countries have also entered the dance, a step described as decisive by a connoisseur of the file. In the shadows, the foreign intelligence services continue their exchanges. Because France is mainly concerned with the cases of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, arrested on May 7, 2022, and of Louis Arnaud, who also came as a tourist. A fourth Frenchman is detained, but his identity has never been made public.

Relief

This release made the French political class react, like Emmanuel Macron who expressed his relief or Elisabeth Borne who spoke of “good news”. This news is also a relief for Benjamin Brière’s lawyer, Maître Philippe Valent. For him, it was essential, because the state of health of his client was becoming critical. “First, there is a moment when you wonder if it’s true, because you’ve already had this hope and it becomes an absolutely immense relief,” he admits. For him, this liberation is almost unexpected. “It was imperative, since we were more than 100 days away from hunger strike, therefore with a vital prognosis which was becoming engaged. Benjamin’s integrity was becoming extremely worrying”, deplores the lawyer who specifies that his client was ready to go all the way.

In addition, Catherine Colonna recalled France’s determination so that the other French people, still detained in Iran, also find their freedom quickly.