Roland Marchal, a researcher at the Institute of Political Studies, is a colleague of Fariba Adelkhah, a Franco-Iranian director of research at the Sciences Po International Research Center in Paris who was arrested in June by the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution who say they suspect her of espionage.
Two sources familiar with the case confirmed to Reuters that Roland Marchal was well held in Iran, without giving more details given the sensitivity of the subject.
No comments could be obtained immediately from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Quoting a relative of Roland Marchal, Le Figaro writes that the latter was transferred to a standard prison and was able to receive visits from French diplomats.
On 9 October, France issued a warning to French nationals against any plans to travel to Iran "mainly because of the arbitrary arrest and detention practices of the Iranian security and intelligence services".
"These services are, in general, very intrusive, especially with regard to the contacts of foreign nationals with the population, especially the university environments that are subject to special surveillance," the government added.
Iran has so far refused to hear France's calls for the release of Fariba Adelkhah, calling them interference in the internal affairs of the Islamic Republic. She also denied consular access to the 60-year-old anthropologist.
Another incident likely to fuel tension between Paris and Tehran occurred on Monday with the announcement by the Revolutionary Guards of the capture in Paris and the repatriation to Iran of Rouhollah Zam, a journalist and Iranian opponent living in France since a dozen years accused by the elite unit of Iran to have conducted an operation intended to "sow discord and spread the lie".
French officials have so far not responded to requests for comments on the issue.
Human rights activists criticize Iran's arrest of Iranians with dual nationality, who claim they seek concessions from other countries.
John Irish; Jean-Stephane Brosse for French service
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