Cyclist of German and French nationality goes missing in Iran - Woman on a bicycle tour across Iran mysteriously vanishes during journey
Lennart Monterlos, an 18-year-old French-German teenager, has been missing in Iran since June 16, 2025, during a cycling trip across the country. His disappearance has raised serious concerns with French diplomatic sources, who have described it as "worrying" and confirmed ongoing contact with his family[1][2][3][4].
Monterlos embarked on a bicycle journey from France to Japan on an unspecified date in 2024, documenting his journey on Instagram and a crowdfunding platform. He was in his final year of high school in eastern France before setting off on the trip[1].
The exact circumstances of Monterlos' disappearance remain unclear, and there is no public confirmation regarding whether he has been formally detained by Iranian authorities. The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, has engaged diplomatically with Iran, demanding the release of detained French citizens, though it is unclear if Monterlos' case was raised[1][2].
Monterlos' last known location was in Shiraz, Iran, marked on his travel blog on June 3, 2025. His travel destinations beyond Shiraz were marked as "planned" on his blog[1][2].
The disappearance of Monterlos comes amidst a broader context of European detentions by Iran under politically charged espionage accusations. French authorities have expressed concern, with diplomatic sources stating that these detentions are part of Iran's "deliberate policy of taking Western hostages." France officially advises its citizens not to travel to Iran due to these risks[1][2][3].
Notably, Iran holds several European detainees under espionage charges, some facing severe accusations including spying for Israel and plotting to overthrow the regime, punishable by death. Two French nationals, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have been held since May 2022 under such charges, which France denies and criticizes as arbitrary and tantamount to torture[1][2].
There is speculation that Monterlos could be a potential captive for Iran to put pressure on France and Germany, and indirectly on Israel. This speculation arises in light of Iran's history of "hostage diplomacy," where the Iranian government detains Western nationals to free Iranian officials abroad[1][2].
Monterlos' passion for sports and adventures, especially climbing and cycling, was evident in his travel blog, which indicated he was already in Iran by late November 2024[1]. Friends and family have posted missing person alerts on social media platforms like Instagram, seeking public assistance and drawing attention to his disappearance[4].
As the investigation continues, the French authorities are hoping for a swift resolution and the safe return of Lennart Monterlos. The Iranian government has denied these accusations and has not provided any official statement regarding Monterlos' case.
[1] Le Figaro [2] BBC News [3] Deutsche Welle [4] Instagram (personal accounts of friends and family)
The disappearance of Lennart Monterlos in Iran during his cycling trip across the country has prompted concerns about France-Iran relations and the safety of Europeans traveling in the region. As a French-German teenager, Monterlos had documented his adventurous travel lifestyle on Instagram and a crowdfunding platform, planning to travel from France to Japan via bicycle. His last known location was in Shiraz, Iran, and his travel destinations beyond Shiraz were marked as "planned" on his blog.
