Xinhua Agency, Tehran, October 14 (Reporter Chen Xiaosadati) According to a report by the "Balance" News Agency affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Justice on the 14th, an Iranian court issued first-instance judgments against two French citizens accused of espionage in Iraq.

The two were reportedly arrested in Iran on March 9, 2023. The charges against them include spying for French intelligence agencies, committing acts endangering Iran's national security, and directly and assisting in intelligence cooperation with Israel. According to the verdict, both defendants have French nationality and are both staff of French intelligence agencies.

After relevant legal procedures, the court made a first-instance judgment: one defendant was sentenced to up to 20 years' imprisonment and exile for cooperating with French intelligence agencies to engage in espionage activities, and another was sentenced to 6 years and 5 years' imprisonment for other crimes; Another defendant was sentenced to up to 17 years in prison for the same kind of charges and 10 and 5 years in prison for other charges. The judgment can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Iran within 20 days from the date of service.