France is "extremely worried" about the health of a French-Irish citizen held in Iran, the Foreign Ministry said on January 17. The comments came as an Iranian newspaper said authorities had arrested a German for allegedly photographing oil facilities in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. Around two dozen foreigners and dual nationals are detained in Iran. Tehran does not recognize dual citizenship among is nationals. Paris is "extremely worried" about the poor health of Bernard Phelan, which "requires appropriate medical monitoring," the ministry said. Phelan, a Paris-based travel consultant, 64, was arrested in October and is being held in Mashhad in northeastern Iran, according to Irish media reports.
