According to Briere’s French lawyer, the conviction was politically motivated and the trial was a “masquerade.” Briere is said to be a “hostage” to the Iranian regime, which wants to use him as change in negotiations with the West to renew the 2015 nuclear deal. It agreed that Iran would not develop nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions against the country. The parties to the accord – Germany, France, Russia and the United Kingdom – are currently in talks with Iran under the leadership of the European Union in Vienna.
In total, about 15 people with Western passports are in Iranian prisons on charges of espionage. Briere is the only one of them who does not also hold Iranian nationality. Several inmates have gone on hunger strike in protest. Briere has also not eaten anything since Christmas, according to his lawyer. Several dozen of Briere’s acquaintances protested in Paris.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the conviction “unfounded and unacceptable” in a statement. According to the ministry, Briere will appeal the ruling.
