Iran denies Syrian mediation to release Reiss

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denied Syria’s mediation in the release of Clotilde Reiss, a French lecturer detained in the post-vote unrest.

Some newspapers including the French daily Le Figaro had earlier claimed that French President Nicolas Sarkozy had asked his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in a telephone conversation to mediate between Tehran and Paris to release Reiss.

An informed Foreign Ministry official rejected the reports as completely false.

The 24-year-old Reiss was detained over a month ago in the course of Iran’s post-election events and faces trial on charges of espionage.

In a court session on July 8, Reiss admitted to having gathered ‘classified’ information on Iran’s nuclear program as well as the country’s post-election developments.

She said the information was conveyed to the French Embassy in Tehran and about 50 friends or members of her family.

Her detention has soured political relations between Tehran and Paris with French officials rejecting her charges and calling for her immediate release.

President Assad is to arrive in Tehran on Wednesday on an official visit.