France, July 11 -- France's prime minister has called on Iran not to "persecute innocent people" after Tehran announced it had arrested young Franco-German cyclist Lennart Monterlos, who disappeared in the country on 16 June.

The French foreign ministry had previously expressed concern over the fate of 18-year-old Lennart Monterlos who disappeared in Iran on 16 June, while on a cycling trip from Europe to Asia.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told French newspaperLe Mondeon Thursday that an "official notification" about Monterlos had been sent to the French embassy in Tehran.

He said Monterlos "has been arrested for committing an offence".

France and a number of other countries have urged their nationals not to go to Iran becau...