An Iranian lower court handed heavy prison sentences to two French citizens charged with spying for France and Israel.

Axar.az informs, citing Mizan, the two French citizens were detained on March 8, 2023.

According to the indictment, the two French defendants faced charges of espionage for the benefit of the French intelligence service, conspiracy to commit crimes against national security, intelligence cooperation with the Israeli regime, and aiding such cooperation.

According to the ruling, one defendant was sentenced to six years in prison for espionage on behalf of the French intelligence service, five years for conspiracy against national security, and twenty years of exile for collaborating with the Israeli regime, considered an act of “enmity against God” (moharebeh).

The second defendant was sentenced to ten years in prison for espionage, five years for conspiracy against national security, and seventeen years for aiding intelligence cooperation with Israel.