Ireland's foreign minister said Thursday the government was doing all it can to secure the release of a French-Irish citizen held in Iran after his family urged Dublin to intensify talks due to concerns for his health following a hunger strike.
Micheal Martin told a news conference in Dublin that "we're going to do everything we possibly can" to help release Bernard Phelan, a Paris-based travel consultant aged 64.
"I think we have been very active in respect of Bernard's situation," he told reporters, according to AFP.
"We've sought his release on humanitarian grounds from the Iranian government and we're waiting a response from the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Iran.
"We've been engaged with the ambassador here as well."
One of seven French nationals held by Iran, Phelan was arrested in October while travelling through the country in the wake of recent anti-regime protests.
Martin's comments followed a plea from Phelan's sister Caroline Masse-Phelan for Dublin to step up its negotiations with Tehran.
"Escalate negotiations with the Iranian authorities to get Bernard out of there. His health condition is extremely bad following his hunger and thirst strike," Masse-Phelan said on RTE radio.
"His health is extremely at risk. And we still do fear for his life. So escalate, escalate, escalate," she said, explaining her brother suffers from a heart condition and chronic bone illness.
A diplomatic source said Iranian authorities had so far refused to release Phelan on medical grounds despite repeated requests from French and Irish authorities.
