Iran: US/France disagreement over prisoner release

The United States has criticised the French government’s decision to release Jalal Rohollahnejad on 20 March, despite the Iranian national being the subject of a US extradition request. In a strongly worded statement issued on 22 March, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the US “deeply regrets France’s unilateral decision” and said it was “regrettable… that France failed to uphold its treaty obligations and prevented justice from being pursued.” The US accuses Rohollahnejad of exporting equipment with military applications to Iran, in violation of US sanctions.