🔻Nearly a month after the arrest of two graphic designers in Tehran, Aria’s relatives, Aria Kesaii and Elhahe Naqi-lo, have said in a statement that the two were detained during “a work session with two representatives of the cultural department of the French Embassy in Iran.”

Based on the statement, the meeting on 28 Tir 1405 (July 19, 2026) was held at the home of Mr. Kesaii at the request of the cultural department of the French Embassy and the subject was a project titled “Villa Zedig.”

The authors of the statement say that during this meeting, the cultural attaché of the French Embassy and another staff member of that embassy’s cultural department were present and “witnessed part of this event.” 📸GettyImages