The family and friends of Lennart Monterlos (pictured), a 19-year-old German-French dual national detained in Iran in June, are seeking information about his whereabouts and the reasons for his arrest.
The family have not received any official information about the detention. They said they are relying on French diplomacy to secure the swift release of Monterlos, and are in ongoing contact with the German Foreign Ministry.
Monterlos disappeared on June 16 during a cycling trip around the world. After posts circulated on July 6 in an effort to locate him, a French diplomatic source called the incident “alarming”.
Relatives called on authorities to recognize the cyclist’s legal rights, including access to an independent Iranian lawyer and visits by consular personnel.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the French newspaper Le Monde on July 12 that a foreign national was arrested for “committing a crime” but did not specify the allegation. He said the French chargé d’affaires in Tehran has met with Monterlos and proceedings would continue “in accordance with the law”.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have seized a series of foreign nationals for political leverage. Among them are French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained in May 2022.
Kohler and Paris were moved out of Tehran’s Evin Prison last month after Israel’s deadly bombing of the facility.
Inside Evin Prison after the ‘symbolic’ Israeli attack that killed 110 people: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/516292/Inside-Evin-Prison-after-the-symbolic-Israeli-attack-that-killed
“When the Zionist regime struck the prison hospital, it was full of doctors, nurses, and prisoners. The scene here was chaotic. Body parts and blood were everywhere…….. Israel attacked Evin Prison to incite social unrest. What they didn’t expect was that even the prisoners here wouldn’t react the way they wanted. We are all Iranian, and when our country is under attack, Iran becomes the only thing that matters. Prison staff spoke about the assistance prisoners provided to guards and aid workers in the aftermath of the attacks. “Israel probably thought prisoners would flee. But only a very small number did, mostly out of fear. Most of the prisoners stayed and helped us move bodies. I remember one female doctor whose hand was severed; prisoners found her hand and began assembling an ice bucket to preserve it.” The doctor was unable to save her hand. However, she later shared on social media how the prisoners had saved her life and how the country stands united against its enemies.”
Israel aimed to collapse Iran, but united us instead: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/516098/Israel-aimed-to-collapse-Iran-but-united-us-instead
New statistics on the casualties:
1. 1,064 Iranians were killed in the 12 day war:
2. 162 were women
3. 47 were children.
4. 267 were male civilians.
5. 588 were police/military.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgOz0dPl46/?igsh=cG0zNzRpYTBmNGVp
Israel’s Red Sea port of Eilat halts operations due to Yemeni-Houthi blockade: https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2025/07/20/israels-red-sea-port-of-eilat-halts-operations-due-to-yemeni-houthi-blockade/
“Israel’s southern port of Eilat suspended operations on Sunday due to heavy debts and unpaid taxes caused by a dramatic decline in shipping triggered by the Yemeni-Houthi blockade of the Red Sea. This is seen by observers as a victory for the Houthis and a rare defeat for Israel. The port was built between 1952-56 and opened for traffic in 1957. It accounted for 5-7 per cent of Israeli maritime trade, contributed to the local economy, attracted tourists, and assumed a security function for southern Israel.”